Brain lactate and N-acetylaspartate in pediatric AIDS encephalopathy.

Abstract

Two children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and progressive encephalopathy underwent MR spectroscopy before and after antiretroviral therapy. Initial MR spectroscopy of the basal ganglia region showed decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and a lactate peak. After therapy, there was improvement in NAA/Cr and an absence of the abnormal lactate peak. We suggest that decreased NAA/Cr in AIDS is reversible, that brain lactate might correlate with inflammation, and that MR spectroscopy can be useful in treatment trials.

• Authors: S G Pavlakis, D Lu, Y Frank, A Wiznia, D Eidelberg, T Barnett, R A Hyman
• Journal: AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology (AJNR Am J Neuroradiol) Vol. 19 Issue 2 Pg. 383-5 (Feb 1998) ISSN: 0195-6108 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9504499 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents
• Aspartic Acid
• Lactic Acid
• Zidovudine
• N-acetylaspartate
• Didanosine
• Creatine

Topics

• AIDS Dementia Complex (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Anti-HIV Agents (therapeutic use)
• Aspartic Acid (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Brain (drug effects, pathology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Creatine (metabolism)
• Didanosine (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Lactic Acid (metabolism)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Male
• Neurologic Examination (drug effects)
• Zidovudine (therapeutic use)