Neuropathogenesis of Central Nervous System HIV Infection

Abstract

CME Educational Objectives 1. Understand basic HIV structure and replication cycle. 2. Describe basic neuropathogenesis of HIV. 3. Discuss the potential role of neuroimaging in the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a common and devastating complication of HIV infection, affecting up to 47% of HIV-seropositive individuals in the combination antiretroviral (cART) era. 1 Because HAND independently predicts non-central nervous system (CNS) morbidity and overall HIV mortality, 2 there is an urgent need to better understand these disorders to develop therapeutic approaches. However, HIV neuropathogenesis, HAND, and its related neuropathology, HIV-encephalitis (HIVE), are complex and incompletely understood. This article describes the current understanding of the basic virology and neuropathogenesis of HIV that contribute to HAND and HIVE.