Alzheimer Dementia in People Living With HIV

Objective Given the aging of people living with HIV (PLWH) and the high prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, we aimed at describing the clinical, instrumental, and CSF features of PLWH diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia (AD). Methods The databases of 3 large Italian outpatient clinics taking care of more than 9,000 PLWH were searched for the diagnosis of AD. After obtaining patients' or their next of kin's consent for publication, anonymous data were collected in an excel spreadsheet and described. Routinely collected CSF biomarkers and radiologic imaging results were recorded whether available. Results Four patients were included in this case series who were diagnosed with AD aged between 60 and 74 years. All participants were on highly active antiretroviral therapy and showed nondetectable serum HIV RNA. Memory impairment was the most prominent cognitive feature. The diagnosis was obtained considering the exclusion of other potential causes, MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose-PET features, and, in (in 2/4), CSF AD biomarkers levels. In 1 patient, longitudinal CSF tau/p-tau increased, and beta-amyloid(1-42) decreased over time despite antiretroviral therapy containing nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Conclusions In older PLWH cognitive symptoms may represent the onset of AD: a multidisciplinary team may be needed for reaching a likely in vivo diagnosis.

Automated summary

In this study, clinical, instrumental, and CSF features of PLWH diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia (AD) were described. Memory impairment was the most prominent cognitive feature, and CSF biomarkers played an important role in the diagnosis.