Brain-reactive antibodies and the AIDS dementia complex

Article Abstract:

Neuropsychological complications, including dementia complex, can occur during HIV infection. Dementia complex is characterized by dementia (confusion and decline of intellectual capacity), encephalopathy (abnormal condition of the tissues of the brain), and dysfunction of the motor or peripheral neurons. The mechanism of how dementia complex occurs is not known. One possible mechanism is the development of an autoimmune response, in which there is an immune response against normal components of the body. Brain-reactive autoantibodies (BRAs) are present in a number of disorders which cause dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. Blood samples from patients with AIDS, 18 of whom had neuropsychological involvement and 12 of whom did not have neuropsychological involvement, were examined for the presence of BRAs. Fourteen of the 18 patients (78 percent) with neuropsychological involvement and 4 out of 12 patients (33 percent) without neuropsychological involvement had antibodies to a particular protein. The identity of the protein is not known. Therefore, the presence of BRAs may be associated with AIDS dementia complex. Further study is needed to see if the presence of BRAs in patients without neuropsychological involvement is indicative of the development of dementia. If this is true then the presence of BRAs can be used as an indicator of future neurological complications and the patients can be treated accordingly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Physiological aspects, Dementia, Autoimmunity, Brain diseases, AIDS dementia, AIDS dementia complex

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Norepinephrine response in early HIV infection

Article Abstract:

Symptoms affecting the brain occur in many patients who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. The autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary function of various organs, appears to be defective in patients with AIDS. When uninfected individuals are exposed to stressful stimuli, levels of catecholamines (molecules involved in autonomic responses) are increased in the blood. A study was conducted testing the responses of 95 homosexual men: 76 who had HIV infection, but were in the early stages of disease; and 19 who were not infected. The test used the physiological stress stimuli called the cold pressure test, which involves immersion of a hand in ice water for one to two minutes. The level of the catecholamine norepinephrine was measured several minutes after the test and was found to be reduced in the HIV-infected men. Further study showed that the time of increase in norepinephrine was different among infected and noninfected individuals. Those with HIV infection had earlier increases in norepinephrine compared with those who were not infected. This study concludes that the norepinephrine response is abnormal in individuals in the early stages of HIV infection. This defect may be involved in the neurologic dysfunction seen in HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Abnormalities, Noradrenaline, Norepinephrine, Nervous system, Autonomic, Autonomic nervous system

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Abnormal pituitary-adrenocortical response in early HIV-1 infection

Article Abstract:

Pituitary-adrenocortical function appears to be adversely affected even early after infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While AIDS patients are known to have endocrine abnormalities, it is not clear if they result from HIV infection or from other opportunistic infections. Using a cold-pressor test, levels of the hormone cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone were measured to indicate the pituitary-adrenocortical axis' response to stress. Sixteen HIV-positive individuals and 28 healthy individuals placed one of their hands in an ice-water bath for two minutes, and blood levels of ACTH and cortisol were monitored before and after immersion. While ACTH levels rose in both infected and uninfected individuals, the ACTH response to cold in the HIV patients was significantly blunted. Cortisol levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. Further studies are needed on the mechanism responsible for the blunted ACTH response to cold.

Usage, ACTH, Corticotropin, Pituitary-adrenal function tests, Endocrine manifestations of general diseases, Endocrine manifestations

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