Neurocognitive Impairment in HIV-Infected Naïve Patients with Advanced Disease: The Role of Virus and Intrathecal Immune Activation
Figure 1
Representation of CSF HIV-RNA dynamics (a), difference in HIV-RNA levels between plasma and CSF () (b) and cytokines (IL-6, MIP-1β) concentrations at baseline. At baseline and after 12 weeks of ART, CSF HIV-RNA was not different between HAND patients and controls (Figure 1(a)). Difference in HIV-RNA levels between plasma and CSF (), both at baseline and at week 12, showed a value > 0.5 log copies/mL in 3/4 patients in the HAND group and in 1/5 in the control group, reflecting a slower decrease in HIV-RNA level in CSF as compared to plasma in HAND patients (Figure 1(b)). At baseline concentration of MIP-1b and IL-6 in CSF, there was a difference between the two groups of patients (Figure 1(c)).
