Microencephaly in children congenitally infected with human immunodeficiency virus--a gross-anatomical morphometric study

A quantitative technique involving serial sectioning and semiautomatic morphometric analysis was used to assess the severity of the reduction in size of the major brain structures in cerebral hemispheres of children congenitally infected with HIV-1. Cerebral hemispheres from 12 children (18-48 months of age) who died of AIDS were sectioned into 5-mm-thick serial slabs and photographed. The cross-sectional areas of grossly recognizable brain structures were digitized, and the volumes were calculated according to Cavalieri's principle. The results were compared with those of an identically processed group of control brains from non-AIDS children. Analysis of the brain weight showed that there was a significant reduction in supratentorial and infratentorial weight in the AIDS group. The results of the morphometric study revealed that the loss in brain mass was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the total volume of both hemispheres, the entire cortex, white matter, and basal ganglia. Detailed analysis of individual brain structures also showed a significant reduction in volume of all cortical regions and most of the subcortical gray matter (e.g., caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, claustrum, and thalamus). It appears that in the microencephaly observed as a frequent sequel in pediatric AIDS, the loss of brain tissue is global and includes an almost proportional loss of cortex, subcortical gray matter and white matter.

Opportunistic infections of the central nervous system in children with HIV infection: report of 9 autopsy cases and review of literature

Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities attributed to direct effects of HIV infection are seen in most of children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Secondary CNS infections with opportunistic and common pathogens are infrequent in this age group. We report 9 cases of opportunistic infection of the CNS found among 65 autopsy cases of pediatric AIDS. These included 4 cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, 1 of which was associated with aspergillosis, and 2 cases of candidiasis, 1 of which coexisted with Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection. There were also 2 cases of leptomeningitis, 1 due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and the other to Cryptococcus neoformans. In 1 child progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) coexisted with mycotic encephalitis caused by an Aspergillus sp.

Immune electron microscopic characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles

Characterization of eleven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), raised to isolated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-treated Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles (ANT), has revealed the presence of at least two different epitopes. MAbs were tested for reactivity to ubiquitin and paired helical filaments (PHF) isolated by three different procedures. The effect of protease and/or alkaline phosphatase pretreatment on the reactivity of the MAbs with isolated PHF was also examined. All MAbs that had reacted strongly in the ELISA with sonicated SDS-treated ANT also immune decorated isolated PHF to varying degrees. Two MAbs exhibited a high reactivity to PHF: 3-39 and 5-25. MAb 3-39 was found to recognize a protease sensitive epitope. In contrast MAb 5-25 was found to consistently decorate isolated PHF in all preparations and exhibited a strong reactivity to ubiquitin, and the epitope in isolated PHF was not protease sensitive. Thus structural PHF after protease treatment and detergent treatment contain an antigenic site that is present in ubiquitin.

Amebic meningoencephalitis in a patient with AIDS caused by a newly recognized opportunistic pathogen. Leptomyxid ameba

A fatal case of meningoencephalitis due to a leptomyxid ameba in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is presented. This opportunistic organism has not been previously recognized as a human pathogen. A 36-year-old male intravenous drug abuser died after an 18-day hospital course heralded by fever and headache and followed by nuchal rigidity and hemiparesis. Computed tomography of the head showed multiple hypodense lesions. Neuropathologic examination showed that in addition to human immunodeficiency virus encephalomyelitis, there was multifocal meningoencephalitis with trophozoites and cysts morphologically indistinguishable from those of Acanthamoeba. These organisms were also found in the kidneys and adrenal glands. By immunofluorescence, the parasites showed antigenic identity with a free-living leptomyxid ameba and failed to react with any of a spectrum of antiacanthamoeba antisera. This emphasizes the importance of immunofluorescence identification of morphologically indistinguishable ameba species.

Skeletal muscle pathology in AIDS: an autopsy study

A survey of skeletal muscle pathology in 92 autopsied cases of AIDS revealed microscopic alterations in 64 cases. There were 40 cases of disuse atrophy, 8 of denervation atrophy, 2 of cryptococcal myositis, 1 of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection and 2 of necrotizing myopathy associated with hyperkalemia. A second group of cases with changes of unknown etiology was found. These were tentatively ascribed to the direct or indirect action of HIV. This category includes 8 cases of inflammatory myopathy, 8 of necrotizing myopathy in absence of a known etiological factor, 3 of extreme atrophy and 4 of "regenerating" myopathy.