Neuropathology of AIDS dementia. A review after 205 post mortem examinations

109 brains were selected after the exclusion of those affected by space occupying lesions or opportunistic infections. All brains with HIV specificity (nodules with multinucleated cells and, at times, two peculiar kinds of myelin involvement) were atrophic (62%); nevertheless dementia had been mentioned only in the 55% of the corresponding autopsy requests. In agreement with previous studies we conclude that HIV encephalopathy does not always give rise to neurological signs.