[MR tomographic volumetry of the subarachnoid space in HIV-associated brain atrophy]

The CSF volume of 45 patients with HIV infection was measured at various clinical stages and the results compared with 24 normals. 60% of all patients showed increased CSF spaces as an indication of cerebral atrophy. Serial measurements were particularly valuable during the early stages of atrophy since there is marked variation in the normal CSF volume. Conventional measurements, with the exception of the width of the third ventricle, were much less sensitive than these quantitative measurements. Classification of HIV infection according to the clinical stage was useful since CSF volume and volume increase correlated with the stage of HIV infection.