MRI scans may help detect HIV in brain

Researchers have found that tracking changes to the brain's white matter using MRI scans may be effective in detecting HIV that may be present in brains of the patients with the disease.

According to researchers, HIV spreads to the brain in around 10 to 15 per cent of patients.

According to the findings, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, patients whose brains showed definite signs of change in the white matter were 10 times more likely to have HIV in the brain than those whose white matter showed no such signs.

These changes in the brain called diffuse white matter signal abnormalities had been linked to cognitive problems and could be triggered by inflammation in the brain caused by HIV infection.

''HIV treatments have come a long way, but patients whose HIV is suppressed by drugs can still have cognitive problems due to HIV related inflammation,'' said Ravi Gupta professor at University College London.

''MRI scans can help diagnose these patients, whether showing an elevated risk of HIV-related problems or finding a different cause that can then be treated, Specialty Pharmacy Times reported. Where HIV has spread to the brain, we can change the treatment regimen to add drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively to control the infection.''

The current detection procedure requires patients to undergo ''lumbar puncture'', involving, drawing out the spinal fluid by inserting a needle into the back. The fluid is then tested for HIV. The invasive procedure requires patients to stay in hospital for several hours.

For the study, scientists examined data from 146 patients with HIV who were investigated for cognitive problems between 2011 and 2015.

As per the results of the study 22 patients showed evidence of HIV activity in the brain.