Document 0200
 DOCN  M9590200
 TI    AIDS dementia complex: an overview.
 DT    9509
 AU    Brew BJ; St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:71 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291899
 AB    AIDS dementia complex (ADC) is a predominantly subcortical dementia that
       occurs in approximately 20% of patients with advanced HIV disease. In a
       personally examined series, the mean CD4 count was found to be 94/1 +/-
       38. The commonest symptoms were difficulty with concentration and short
       term memory accompanied by gait unsteadiness and less often social
       apathy. Some of these manifestations may be confused with psychiatric
       symptomatology but often there were other complaints such as urinary
       hesitancy, frequency and limb tremor that clearly defined the organic
       basis of the disorder. Complaints of gait unsteadiness and limb
       clumsiness were highly associated with underlying ADC. Difficulties with
       concentration, social apathy and tremor were highly predictive in
       otherwise asymptomatic patients of the subsequent development of ADC at
       12 months whilst complaints of short term memory were predictive of ADC
       at 3 and 6 months and seizures were predictive at 3 months. The mean
       time to progression from stage 0.5, that is minor symptoms without the
       presence of dementia, to stage 1 or more was 59 weeks. Investigation of
       a patient with ADC is largely exclusionary by means of CT brain scan and
       CSF analysis. In the appropriate patient the following findings are
       confirmatory: CT brain scan showing cerebral atrophy and elevated
       concentrations of CSF beta 2 microglobulin and neopterin. Treatment
       consists of zidovudine which on average can be expected to work in 50%
       of patients. The mean time for response is 8 weeks. Newer forms of
       treatment include atevirdine for which data will be presented later in
       this conference and more experimental therapies such as delavirdine and
       peptide T.
 DE    AIDS Dementia Complex/*DIAGNOSIS/DRUG THERAPY/*PSYCHOLOGY  Diagnosis,
       Differential  Human  Neurologic Examination/DRUG EFFECTS
       Neuropsychological Tests  Prognosis  Zidovudine/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE
       MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).