In contrast to populations before the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, DSP in the Manhattan HIV Brain Bank cohort is not associated with increased viral load or decreased CD4 cell counts in this cross-sectional analysis. Symptoms in DSP are associated with substance use disorders, but no difference in morphologic structure is seen in nerves of patients with HIV infection with and without substance use histories. Previously reported virologic and immunologic underpinnings of DSP may be affected by highly active antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, symptoms of DSP in substance users may be altered by central mechanisms of increased or decreased tolerance to sensory disturbance.

There appears to be a neuropsychiatric impact of HCV that is detectable even among an advanced HIV cohort.

No abstract

HCV and biochemical indices of liver function associate differentially with nervous system abnormalities in this HIV-infected population. Neurological abnormalities correlate with biochemical indices of liver function, whereas neuropsychological and psychiatric dysfunction are linked to HCV infection. We postulate that multifactorial impacts of HCV and liver disease on HIV-related nervous system disorders may originate in different anatomical and cellular compartments.

The current study aimed to identify the primary informal caregivers of a group of urban HIV+ adults (n = 250) and to determine relationships between demographic, medical, and substance use characteristics and caregivers types. Reported caregiver types included 36.8% familial, 22.4% significant other, and 22.8% institutional or other caregiver relationships. The remaining 18% of the sample reported having no individual that rendered informal care. Factors associated with the absence of an informal caregiver included African American race and low education. Hispanic participants reported the highest frequency of family caregivers while participants with a history of substance disorder were less likely to identify a significant other as a caregiver. This study demonstrates the evolving nature of informal caregiving in HIV, race-and education-related disparities in the absence of primary caregivers, and the importance of sociocultural and demographic factors in the study of HIV caregiving.