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Current HIV Research

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-162X
ISSN (Online): 1873-4251

Research Article

Cognitive Performance and Neuro-Metabolites in HIV Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Cross-Sectional Study from India

Author(s): K. Gupta, Shivabalan, V. Kumar, S. Vyas, R. M. Pandey, N. R. Jagannathan and S. Sinha*

Volume 19, Issue 2, 2021

Published on: 26 October, 2020

Page: [147 - 153] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1570162X18666201026141729

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with higher morbidity. The prevalence of the metabolite changes in the brain associated with cognitive impairment in anti-retroviral therapy naïve patients with HIV is unknown.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the neurometabolites associated with cognitive impairment in antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve patients with HIV.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among ART naïve patients with HIV aged 18-50 years in a tertiary care center in India. Cognition was tested using the Post Graduate Institute battery of brain dysfunction across five domains; memory, attention-information processing, abstraction executive, complex perceptual, and simple motor skills. We assessed the total N-acetyl aspartyl (tNAA), creatine (tCr) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx) using 3T magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cognitive impairment was defined as an impairment in ≥2 domains.

Results: Among 43 patients eligible for this study, the median age was 32 years (IQR 29, 40) and 30% were women. Median CD4 count and viral load were 317 cells/μL (IQR 157, 456) and 9.3 copies/ μL (IQR 1.4, 38), respectively. Impairment in at least one cognitive domain was present in 32 patients (74.4%). Impairment in simple motor skills and memory was present in 46.5% and 44% of patients, respectively. Cognitive impairment, defined by impairment in ≥2 domains, was found in 22 (51.2%) patients. There was a trend towards higher concentration of tNAA (7.3 vs. 7.0 mmol/kg), tGlx (9.1 vs. 8.2 mmol/kg), and tCr (5.5 vs. 5.2 mmol/kg) in the frontal lobe of patients with cognitive impairment vs. without cognitive impairment but it did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05 for all). There was no difference in the concentration of these metabolites in the two groups in the basal ganglia.

Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of cognitive impairment in ART naïve patients with HIV. There is no difference in metabolites in patients with or without cognitive impairment. Further studies, with longitudinal follow-up are required to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Keywords: Cognitive performance, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, HIV, neurometabolites, left frontal white matter, memory, motor skills.

Graphical Abstract
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