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Functional brain imaging in HIV-1-infected children born to seropositive mothers
1Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, CEA and INSERM U29, Orsay, France.
Insights
Cerebral glucose metabolism abnormalities, including hypometabolism and hypermetabolism, were detected in children with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. These functional brain changes may appear before neurological symptoms manifest.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Pediatric HIV-1 infection can affect brain development and function.
- Understanding early cerebral changes is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebral glucose utilization in vertically infected children with HIV-1.
- To correlate brain function with neurological symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).
- Quantitative analysis of glucose metabolism in gray matter cortical and subcortical regions.
- Study included eight children aged 2.5-5.5 years.
Main Results:
- Children with severe neurological symptoms showed diffuse hypometabolism and subcortical hypermetabolism.
- Children without severe symptoms exhibited temporo-occipital cortical hypometabolism, predominantly on the right.
- Functional brain abnormalities were observed in all participants.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral functional abnormalities may precede clinical symptoms in pediatric HIV-1 infection.
- PET imaging can detect early brain changes in children with HIV-1.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring brain function in vertically infected children.
Unlabelled:
The aim of this work was to study cerebral function in vertically infected children with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1).
Methods:
PET with 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was performed in eight children (2.5-5.5 yr): three with severe neurological symptoms and five without. Quantitative analysis was based on gray matter cortical and subcortical regions of interest for which glucose utilization was measured.
Results:
Diffuse hypometabolism and subcortical hypermetabolism were found in the three children with severe neurological signs; the five other children had temporo-occipital cortical hypometabolism, mainly on the right side.
Conclusion:
Functional cerebral abnormalities seem to precede clinical symptoms in HIV-1infection of the brain in children.