return to CNTN
Publication Abstract Display | Type: Published Abstract | Title: National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium [NNTC]. | Authors: Grant I, Gelman BB, Morgello S, Singer EJ | Year: 2003 | Publication: Journal of NeuroVirology | Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Pages: 113 | Abstract:The NNTC consists of four cooperating NIMH/NINDS
sponsored R24 Centers whose primary goal is to
facilitate neuroAIDS research through provision of
neurologic tissues acquired from persons with AIDS
who were well characterized neuromedically prior
to death. The NNTC Centers, located at New York's
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of
Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, UCLA, and UCSD
have now exalnined 1,254 persons with AIDS on one
to several occasions before death and have acquired
236 brain specimens that have extensive antemortem
clinical data. Effort is made to harvest tissues within
24 hours of death. Both cryopreserved and paraffin
fixed brain specimens from multiple regions are retained.
We present clinical and neuropathologic descriptors
of the first 113 antemortem-postmortemp airs.
Results: Demographics. At last evaluation subjects
were aged 43.2 (SD, 8.5); education was 12.5 (SD,
2.4); sex was 79% men; ethnicity was 24% African-
American; 22% Hispanic: 50% White: 4% Other.
Neuromedical [all data from last visit prior to death].
The laboratory findings were a CD4 median of 55 [IQR
10 to 183]: log 10 plasma RNA median of 4.7 [IQR
3.4 to 5.3]: log 10 CSF RNA median of 4.0 [IQR 2.1
to 5.1]. Neurocognitive status. From a comprehensive
neuropsychologicala ssessmenat nd neurologic exam
21% had severe impairment (demential, 49% had
moderate impairment {MCMD], 16% were mildly impaired [asymptomatic NP impairment] and 13% were
cognitively normal. Deficits in learning, motor skills,
and abstraction.executive dysfunction predominated.
Neuropa~?logy Diagnoses. No patho~ogy, 20%; mv
encephalitis. 22%; Other non infectious pathQlogy,
13%; Alzheimer type II gliosis, 10%; Infarcts or hem.
orrhages. 9%; CMV encephalitis. 3%; PMI. 3%; Cyrp.
tococcus. 3%; and the remainder, other scattered di.
agnoses. [NOTE: foregoing are "primary" pathologic
diagnoses; multiple diagnoses occurred frequently].
Conclusions: The NNTC has available a rich collection
of neuropathologic specimens of persons dying
with AIDS. which can be linked to compre.
hensive antemortem information. Despite HAART.
mv encephalitis and other neuropathologies remain
prevalent. This resource should facilitate research
into pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of neu.
roAIDS. |
return to publications listing
|