Quinolinic acid in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in HIV‐1 Infection: Relationship to clinical and neurological status Journal Article


Authors: Heyes, M. P.; Brew, B. J.; Martin, A.; Price, R. W.; Salazar, A. M.; Sidtis, J. J.; Yergey, J. A.; Mouradian, M. M.; Sadler, A. E.; Keilp, J.; Rubinow, D.; Markey, S. P.
Article Title: Quinolinic acid in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in HIV‐1 Infection: Relationship to clinical and neurological status
Abstract: Quinolinic acid is an “excitotoxic” metabolite and an agonist of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. Of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) who were neurologically normal or exhibited only equivocal and subclinical signs of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex, concentrations of quinolinic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were increased twofold in patients in the early stages of disease (Walter Reed stages 1 and 2) and averaged 3.8 times above normal in later‐stage patients (Walter Reed stages 4 through 6). However, in patients with either clinically overt AIDS dementia complex, aseptic meningitis, opportunistic infections, or neoplasms, CSF levels were elevated over 20‐fold and generally paralleled the severity of cognitive and motor dysfunction. CSF concentrations of quinolinic acid were significantly correlated to the severity of the neuropsychological deficits. After treatment of AIDS dementia complex with zidovudine and treatment of the opportunistic infections with specific antimicrobial therapies, CSF levels of quinolinic acid decreased in parallel with clinical neurological improvement. By analysis of the relationship between levels of quinolinic acid in the CSF and serum and integrity of the blood‐brain barrier, as measured by the CSF: serum albumin ratio, it appears that CSF levels of quinolinic acid may be derived predominantly from intracerebral sources and perhaps from the serum. While quinolinic acid may be another “marker” of host‐ and virus‐mediated events in the brain, the established excitotoxic effects of quinolinic acid and the magnitude of the increases in CSF levels of the acid raise the possibility that quinolinic acid plays a direct role in the pathogenesis of brain dysfunction associated with HIV‐1 infection. Copyright © 1991 American Neurological Association
Keywords: human tissue; major clinical study; cerebrospinal fluid; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; virus infection; regression analysis; hiv infections; human immunodeficiency virus 1; hiv-1; zidovudine; human; priority journal; article; support, non-u.s. gov't; support, u.s. gov't, p.h.s.; support, u.s. gov't, non-p.h.s.; neurotoxins; aids dementia complex; quinolinic acid; quinolinic acids; convulsants
Journal Title: Annals of Neurology
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0364-5134
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 1991-02-01
Start Page: 202
End Page: 209
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/ana.410290215
PUBMED: 1826418
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 27 September 2019 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Richard W. Price
    58 Price
  2. John J. Sidtis
    18 Sidtis
  3. Bruce J. Brew
    19 Brew