Diagnostic Imaging Contribution in the Early Stages of HIV Infection of the Brain.

The neuropathology of full-blown, symptomatic AIDS, established in many large autopsy series, has been described in great detail and is now universally accepted. In contrast, the natural history of the changes occurring in the central nervous system during the earlier states of HIV-1 infection remains poorly understood. With specific regard to MR imaging, structural abnormalities have been reported early in the course of the illness, with variable incidence, making it difficult to appreciate the significance of these findings, in particular for neurologically asymptomatic individuals.

Diagnostic imaging contribution in the early stages of HIV infection of the brain.

The neuropathology of full-blown, symptomatic AIDS, established in many large autopsy series, has been described in great detail and is now universally accepted. In contrast, the natural history of the changes occurring in the central nervous system during the earlier states of HIV-1 infection remains poorly understood. With specific regard to MR imaging, structural abnormalities have been reported early in the course of the illness, with variable incidence, making it difficult to appreciate the significance of these findings, in particular for neurologically asymptomatic individuals.

[The epidemiology and cost of AIDS in France].

Throughout the world the AIDS epidemic continues and even seems to accelerate in regions previously thought to be untouched. The number of cases has increased by 60% in one year. With its 15,000 seropositive persons and 35,000 cases of declared AIDS, France is the most affected of all European countries.

[Early involvement of the central nervous system in HIV infection: screening by MRI (a 5-year follow-up)].

A cohort of 50 initially asymptomatic seropositive patients have been followed for five years. Various clinical evolution have been observed: 21 remain stable, 29 underwent complications that take then to AIDS, 11 died. In any case, invariability of the MRI anomalies seems had to be imputed to primary infection scars.

MRI pattern of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in AIDS. Pathological correlations.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease which occurs in immunodepressed subjects and is particularly frequent in AIDS. Some authors having drawn attention to the protean aspect of the disease and claimed that AIDS may lose its basic characteristics and affect the grey matter as well as the white matter, we reviewed a series of 8 patients who had been biopsied and/or autopsied and had been examined at least once by MRI. In this series, contrary to what is regularly observed in toxoplasmic abscesses we did not find any lesion of the grey matter or any mass effect.

Post-pneumonectomy evaluation of the chest: a prospective comparative study of MRI with CT.

A comparative study of 11 pneumonectomized patients was undertaken in order to evaluate the respective advantages and drawbacks of MRI and CT in post-operative follow-up. Nine patients were healthy at the time of the study and two presented with tumor recurrence. MR examination included 500/40 ms axial, and frontal 800/40-80 ms or 1300/60-120 ms nongated spin echo sequences.

[Cerebral MRI in the study of prognostic factors in AIDS. Hypotheses from tests on 15 patients].

In an attempt to determine factors of predictive value in HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus) seropositive patients, particular attention was payed to symptoms indicating early involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). A cohort of healthy carriers was thus constituted. Follow-up will be carried out every six month including clinical, biological as well as CNS imaging by NMR.

[Magnetic resonance imaging: early detection of involvement of the central nervous system in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement, whether primary by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus--HIV--itself, or secondary (toxoplasmosis or lymphoma) is remarkably frequent in AIDS, in 40 to 70% of cases, depending upon the author. In order to study the natural history of this illness, a cohort of 25 asymptomatic seropositive patients have been established. Every 6 months these patients undergo biological and clinical examinations, as well as Magnetic Resonance brain scans.