Brain RNA levels were consistently higher than CSF, but correlated with CSF values for dementia subjects. CSF HIV RNA may be a surrogate marker for brain infection based on the observed correlation with brain levels. Studies are under way to measure CSF HIV RNA in patients initiating therapy. Mean SEM CSF and plasma HIV RNA levels in different neurological groups. Significantly higher CSF levels in subjects with HIV dementia compared to HIV-NML and MCMD, after controlling for CD4 counts.
Plasma levels are only of borderline significance.
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