Proton Spectroscopy in a Cross-Section of HIV Positive Asymptomatic Patients Receiving Immediate Compared with Deferred Zidovudine (Concorde Study)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine by proton spectroscopy for any difference in cerebral metabolites in patients taking part in the Concorde study (comparing the efficacy of immediate versus deferred treatment with zidovudine on asymptomatic HIV infected individuals). Forty seven HIV positive male patients [29 immediate, 18 deferred zidovudine] were examined in the last 9 months of the therapeutic trial. Magnetic resonance imaging and proton spectroscopy were performed at 1.5 Tesla using a single voxel placed in the parieto-occipital white matter. No significant difference was found in metabolite ratios comparing immediate versus deferred zidovudine (NA/NA+Cho+Cr 0.52 vs. 0.52). High quality spectra were acquired in relatively large numbers of patients and logistically spectroscopy may be applied to clinical therapeutic studies.

Proton MRS and quantitative MRI assessment of the short term neurological response to antiretroviral therapy in AIDS

“…Previous work has shown that it is logistically feasible to use MRI and spectroscopy in HIV related drug trials 30. The present data indicate that quantitative MRI and spectroscopy have a role in assessing the neurological effects of antiretroviral therapies in patients with AIDS.…”