Lesions of brain structures in HIV infection

Abstract

A feature of the HIV epidemic is currently a large number of comorbid and severe forms of the disease, with frequent involvement in the pathological process of the brain. Brain lesions can be primary, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus itself and secondary, due to the development of opportunistic and secondary diseases and tumors. Correct and timely deciphering of the nature of brain damage is necessary for the choice of treatment tactics and as a consequence of reducing mortality.
 Objective. To study the radiological manifestations of brain damage in HIV infection in urgent and planned admission of patients to specialized hospitals.
 Materials and methods of research. In the work, studies were conducted to study the clinical and radiological manifestations of brain damage in HIV-infected patients admitted to various medical institutions with a diagnosis of HIV infection. Radiation examination of the brain was performed in adult HIV-infected patients (n = 410) using magnetic resonance imaging with intravenous contrast. The final diagnosis was made taking into account clinical, laboratory, radiological studies on the classification of ICD-10 in accordance with the domestic requirements of the formulation of comorbid diagnosis.
 Conclusion. To correctly decipher the nature of brain damage, it is necessary to use comprehensive studies including clinical, laboratory and radiation examination methods. Magnetic resonance imaging with intravenous contrast is the method of choice in the examination of the brain in HIV-infected patients.
 The structure of brain damage in HIV-infected patients had a different nature: in 54.4% there were signs of the presence of opportunistic and secondary diseases; in 24.9% signs of HIV encephalopathy; in 13.2% signs of nonspecific changes in small vessels of the brain, indicating premature aging or abnormal development; in 7.56% signs of involvement of the brain in the pathological process were not detected.
 Structure and opportunistic secondary diseases were presented: toxoplasmosis of the brain 18.3%; herpes lesions 12.2%; chief of 10.24%; neuroinfection unspecified etiology is 12.2%; cryptococcosis 4.39%; TB is 2.44%; lymphoma of the brain is 2.44%; MAC infection is 0.24%.
 Brain damage in HIV-infected patients is largely characterized by synchronicity (mixed infection in 8.52 %) and multifactorial lesions.