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Neuroimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise
Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Berger JR.. Journal of neuroimmunology, 2004-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The mechanisms underlying blood-brain barrier (BBB) compromise in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the ways in which BBB compromise might impair neurocognitive function remain poorly understood. This study had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between BBB breakdown, measured using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI), plasma viral load, and neurological status; and (2) to examine the influence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the relationship between neuroinflammation using myoinositol/creatine (mI/Cr), a surrogate marker of glial activation as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and BBB compromise determined by CE-MRI. In 25 HIV-infected patients, we found that: (1) the severity of neurocognitive impairment correlated with the degree of BBB breakdown in the basal ganglia; (2) for any given degree of BBB compromise, patients with high plasma viral load were more severely impaired; (3) BBB compromise correlated with mI/Cr in the basal ganglia; and (4) for any given level of mI/Cr, the severity of BBB compromise and the severity of neurocognitive impairment were significantly less in patients on HAART than in those who were HAART-naive. These results confirm a role for BBB compromise in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and suggest that elevated plasma viral load in the presence of BBB compromise may increase the risk for development of HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Additionally, they suggest a salutary effect of HAART on the incidence and severity of HAD, which may, in part, be due to protection of BBB integrity.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Avison, M. J., Nath, A., Greene-Avison, R., Schmitt, F. A., Greenberg, R. N., & Berger, JR. (2004). Neuroimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise. Journal of neuroimmunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.025
Vancouver
Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Berger JR. Neuroimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise. Journal of neuroimmunology. 2004. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.025. PMID: 15579291.
BibTeX
@article{avison2004-15579291,
author = {Avison, M. J. and Nath, A. and Greene-Avison, R. and Schmitt, F. A. and Greenberg, R. N. and Berger, JR.},
title = {{Neuroimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise}},
journal = {Journal of neuroimmunology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.025},
pmid = {15579291},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.025}
}
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Key findings
- In 25 HIV-infected patients, we found that: (1) the severity of neurocognitive impairment correlated with the degree of BBB breakdown in the basal ganglia; (2) for any given degree of BBB compromise, patients with high plasma viral load were more severely impaired; (3) BBB compromise correlated with mI/Cr in the basal ganglia; and (4) for any given level of mI/Cr, the severity of BBB compromise and the severity of neurocognitive impairment were significantly less in patients on HAART than in those who were HAART-naive.
- These results confirm a role for BBB compromise in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and suggest that elevated plasma viral load in the presence of BBB compromise may increase the risk for development of HIV-associated dementia (HAD).
Why it matters
In 25 people with HIV, more breakdown of the blood-brain barrier on contrast MRI was linked to worse neurocognitive impairment, and patients with high viral load were more impaired. Those on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) had less barrier damage and less impairment for a given level of glial activation. The authors suggest HAART may help protect against HIV-associated dementia partly by preserving the barrier; the study concerns HIV rather than Alzheimer's.
Study details
- Study designclinical trial
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroimmunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuroimmunology: journal h-index 192 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “clinical trial”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 85 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.5 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Joseph R. Berger: h-index 57 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15579291) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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