Background, purpose Fractional anisotropy in the frontal white matter, corpus callosum and internal capsule are abnormal in HIV+ adults. We describe the distribution, nature of white matter abnormalities in a cohort of children who started ART within the first year of life - and benefit of early treatment using DTI measures (fractional anisotropy, mean, axial and radial diffusion). Materials, methods DTI was performed on children in a neurodevelopmental sub study from the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral (CHER) trial. Voxel-based group comparisons were performed to determine regions where fractional anisotropy and mean diffusion differed between HIV+ and uninfected children. Associations of DTI parameters with timing of ART initiation were examined. Results 39 HIV+ children (15 male, mean age 5.4 years) and 13 controls (5 male, mean age 5.7 years) were imaged. 2 Clusters with lower fractional anisotropy and 7 clusters with increased mean diffusion were identified in the HIV+ group with symmetrical distribution predominantly due to increased radial diffusion, suggestive of decreased myelination. Corticospinal tracts rather than the corpus callosum were predominantly involved. Children on early interrupted ART had lower fractional anisotropy compared to those receiving continuous treatment. Conclusion HIV+ children at 5 years have white matter abnormalities measured by fractional anisotropy, despite early ART, suggesting that early ART does not fully protect the white matter either from peripartum or in utero infection. In contrast to adults, the corticospinal tracts are predominantly involved rather than the corpus callosum, possibly due to early ART. Continuous early ART can limit white matter damage.

BACKGROUND The natural history and manifestation of HIV-related neurological disease have been ameliorated by combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). We describe the characteristics of white matter signal abnormalities (WMSA) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with HIV-related neurological disease. METHODS We reviewed MRI scans of children with suspected HIV-related neurological disease despite early ART, and correlated with clinical, neurodevelopmental data, virological markers and time on ART. These children were also on the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral (CHER) trial. RESULTS MRI scans were performed at a mean age 31.9 months (range 8-54) on 44 children: 10 on deferred and 34 on early treatment arms, commencing ART at mean age of 18.5 and 8 weeks respectively. Multiple high signal intensity lesions on T2 /FLAIR were documented in 22 patients (50%), predominantly in frontal (91%) and parietal (82%) white matter. No differences in neurodevelopmental scores comparing children with and without WMSA were found. Neither lesion load nor distribution showed significant correlation with neurodevelopmental scores or neurological examination. Normal head growth was more common in the WMSA group (p=0.01). There was a trend for association of WMSA and longer time on ART (p=0.13) and nadir CD4% (p=0.08). CONCLUSION Half of children referred with HIV-related brain disease had WMSA on T2/FLAIR. Our findings of the association with normal head growth and duration of ART require further study. We suspect that WMSA can occur early and that initiating ART by 8 weeks of life may be too late to prevent HIV from entering the CNS.

Corpus callosum thickness correlates with brain volume both in HIV-infected patients and controls.

Length of the CC and the "motor CC segment" may represent surrogate clinical biomarkers of central nervous system disease severity and with decreased level of immunity in HIV-infected patients that precede established HIV encephalopathy.

We describe the first case of implantation of a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in a patient with an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery, coursing in between the aorta and pulmonary truncus to the right. After assessment of the risk of compression of the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus (ARCA), the procedure was performed without complication. A brief discussion of the pathophysiology of ARCA is provided and the implications for TAVI as well as our recommendations are offered.