"These effects on CSF neurofilament light protein were seen in association with clinical improvement in AIDS dementia complex patients, decreases in plasma and CSF HIV-1 RNA and CSF neopterin, and increases in blood CD4 T-cell counts," the authors wrote.
They noted that the study was limited by its retrospective design and short follow-up. In addition, since all but two patients had never previously received anti-retroviral therapy, the findings may be applicable only to treatment-naïve patients.
"Multiple-drug-experienced patients and patients on salvage therapy, who may be at greater risk of chronic CNS damage, need to be assessed in future studies," they wrote. "Indeed, neurofilament light protein measurement needs to be applied to a larger prospective longitudinal study that also includes more extensive neurologic assessments, including detailed neurocognitive testing."
| The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Medical Faculty Goteborg University, the Research Foundation of Swedish Physicians against AIDS, FoU-enheten Sodra Alvsborg, and from Stiftelsen Fokus Foreningsparbanken. The authors reported no conflicts of interest. |
