A Secondary Analysis from a Randomized Trial on the Effect of Plasma Tetrahydrocannabinol Levels on Pain Reduction in Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

This report examines the association between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) plasma levels and pain response in a secondary analysis of data from a recent diabetic neuropathy study that demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in spontaneous and elicited pain at specific time points. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted in sixteen patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Subjects participated in four sessions, separated by 2 weeks, during each of which they were exposed to one of four conditions: placebo, or 1%, 4%, or 7% THC dose of cannabis. Baseline assessments of spontaneous and evoked pain were performed. Subjects were then administered aerosolized cannabis or placebo and pain intensity and cognitive testing at specific time points for 4 hours. A blood sample was drawn from the left antecubital vein for plasma assay of total THC at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 150, and 240 minutes. Associations were made between pain intensity, cognitive impairment and THC plasma levels in this secondary analysis. Results suggested a U-shaped relation whereby pain ratings are greatest at extreme (low and high) levels of THC. The therapeutic window appeared to fall between 16 ng/mL and 31 ng/mL THC plasma level. There was a significant linear effect of THC on only one out of the three cognitive tests. These findings stress the importance of measuring cannabinoid plasma levels when performing future research. Perspective: This analysis correlating plasma THC levels and pain reduction in diabetic neuropathy suggest a therapeutic window. Low and high THC levels had a negative association (no reduction) and THC levels within the window had a positive association (reduction). There was a minor negative linear effect of THC on cognitive function.

Extreme Field Sensitivity of Magnetic Tunneling in Fe-Doped Li_{3}N.

The magnetic properties of dilute Li_{2}(Li_{1-x}Fe_{x})N with x∼0.001 are dominated by the spin of single, isolated Fe atoms. Below T=10 K the spin-relaxation times become temperature independent indicating a crossover from thermal excitations to the quantum tunneling regime. We report on a strong increase of the spin-flip probability in transverse magnetic fields that proves the resonant character of this tunneling process. Longitudinal fields, on the other hand, lift the ground-state degeneracy and destroy the tunneling condition. An increase of the relaxation time by 4 orders of magnitude in applied fields of only a few milliTesla reveals exceptionally sharp tunneling resonances. Li_{2}(Li_{1-x}Fe_{x})N represents a comparatively simple and clean model system that opens the possibility to study quantum tunneling of the magnetization at liquid helium temperatures.

Predictors of Attrition in a Cohort Study of HIV Infection and Methamphetamine Dependence.

Longitudinal cohort studies of HIV and substance use disorders play an important role in understanding these conditions, but high rates of attrition can threaten their integrity and generalizability. This study aimed to identify factors associated with attrition in a 5-year observational cohort study of 469 individuals with and without HIV infection and methamphetamine (MA) dependence. Rates of attrition in our four study groups were approximately 24% in HIV-MA-, 15% in HIV+MA-, 56% in HIV-MA+, and 47% in HIV+MA+ individuals. Predictors of attrition in the overall cohort included history of MA, alcohol, and other substance dependence, learning impairment, reduced cognitive reserve, and independence in activities of daily living (all ps < .05), but varied somewhat by clinical group. Of particular note, enrollment in a neuroimaging substudy was associated with significantly boosted rates of retention in the MA groups. Results from this investigation highlight the complexity of the clinical factors that influence retention in cohort studies of HIV-infected MA users and might guide the development and implementation of targeted retention efforts.

Asymptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment increases risk for symptomatic decline.

OBJECTIVE: While HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain prevalent despite combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), the clinical relevance of asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), the most common HAND diagnosis, remains unclear. We investigated whether HIV-infected persons with ANI were more likely than those who were neurocognitively normal (NCN) to experience a decline in everyday functioning (symptomatic decline). METHODS: A total of 347 human participants from the CNS HIV Anti-Retroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) cohort were NCN (n = 226) or had ANI (n = 121) at baseline. Neurocognitive assessments occurred approximately every 6 months, with median (interquartile range) follow-up of 45.2 (28.7-63.7) months. Symptomatic decline was based on self-report (SR) or objective, performance-based (PB) problems in everyday functioning. Proportional hazards modeling was used to generate risk ratios for progression to symptomatic HAND after adjusting for baseline and time-dependent covariates, including CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (CD4), virologic suppression, CART, and mood. RESULTS: The ANI group had a shorter time to symptomatic HAND than the NCN after adjusting for baseline predictors: adjusted risk ratios for symptomatic HAND were 2.0 (confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.6; p = 0.02) for SR, 5.8 (CI 3.2-10.7; p < 0.0001) for PB, and 3.2 (CI 2.0-5.0; p < 0.0001) for either SR or PB. Current CD4 and depression were significant time-dependent covariates, but antiretroviral regimen, virologic suppression, and substance abuse or dependence were not. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal study demonstrates that ANI conveys a 2-fold to 6-fold increase in risk for earlier development of symptomatic HAND, supporting the prognostic value of the ANI diagnosis in clinical settings. Identifying those at highest risk for symptomatic decline may offer an opportunity to modify treatment to delay progression.

Defining neurocognitive impairment in HIV: deficit scores versus clinical ratings.

Because HIV-related neurocognitive impairment is usually mild and variable, clinical ratings (CR) and global deficit scores (GDS) are recommended for detecting HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The CR approach requires impairment in at least two ability domains while the GDS considers number and severity of impairments across all measures. We examined classification agreement and clinical correlates of the two methods. Neurocognitive functioning of 1574 HIV-infected participants was assessed via a comprehensive, seven-domain neuropsychological battery. Global neurocognitive impairment was defined for each participant independently by CR and GDS. Participants were classified into four categories (Dually-normal, [impaired by] CR-only, [impaired by] GDS-only, or Dually-impaired). There was 83% concordance between CR and GDS classifications; in total, 56% of participants were deemed impaired by CR and 41% were classified as impaired by GDS. Impairment by GDS virtually guaranteed CR impairment, but 16% of participants were additionally classified as impaired only by CR. As compared to Dually-normal participants, those classified as Dually and CR-only impaired were more likely to have AIDS, have more severe co-occurring conditions, have more severe depressive symptoms, be unemployed, and have more everyday functioning complaints (ps < .05). Impairment classifications of the two methods were in high agreement; however, more people were classified as impaired using the CR approach compared to the GDS approach. Those impaired according to CR-only showed fewer neurocognitive and functional deficits than the Dually-impaired participants, but more of these deficits than Dually-normal participants. The CR approach may be most appropriate for detecting more subtle forms of neurocognitive impairment. Clinicians and researchers should recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each method when evaluating neurocognitive complications in HIV.

Effectiveness of collaborative care for depression in human immunodeficiency virus clinics.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common among persons with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. METHODS: A single-blind randomized controlled effectiveness trial at 3 Veterans Affairs HIV clinics (HIV Translating Initiatives for Depression Into Effective Solutions [HITIDES]). The HITIDES intervention consisted of an off-site HIV depression care team (a registered nurse depression care manager, pharmacist, and psychiatrist) that delivered up to 12 months of collaborative care backed by a Web-based decision support system. Participants who completed the baseline telephone interview were 249 HIV-infected patients with depression, of whom 123 were randomized to the intervention and 126 to usual care. Participant interview data were collected at baseline and at the 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. The primary outcome was depression severity measured using the 20-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-20) and reported as treatment response (≥50% decrease in SCL-20 item score), remission (mean SCL-20 item score, <0.5), and depression-free days. Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life, health status, HIV symptom severity, and antidepressant or HIV medication regimen adherence. RESULTS: Intervention participants were more likely to report treatment response (33.3% vs 17.5%) (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-4.56) and remission (22.0% vs 11.9%) (2.25; 1.11-4.54) at 6 months but not 12 months. Intervention participants reported more depression-free days during the 12 months (ß = 19.3; 95% CI, 10.9-27.6; P < .001). Significant intervention effects were observed for lowering HIV symptom severity at 6 months (ß = -2.6; 95% CI, -3.5 to -1.8; P < .001) and 12 months (ß = -0.82; -1.6 to -0.07; P = .03). Intervention effects were not significant for other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: The HITIDES intervention improved depression and HIV symptom outcomes and may serve as a model for collaborative care interventions in HIV and other specialty physical health care settings where patients find their "medical home." TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00304915.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders persist in the era of potent antiretroviral therapy: CHARTER Study.

OBJECTIVES: This is a cross-sectional, observational study to determine the frequency and associated features of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in a large, diverse sample of infected individuals in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART). METHODS: A total of 1,555 HIV-infected adults were recruited from 6 university clinics across the United States, with minimal exclusions. We used standardized neuromedical, psychiatric, and neuropsychological (NP) examinations, and recently published criteria for diagnosing HAND and classifying 3 levels of comorbidity (minimal to severe non-HIV risks for NP impairment). RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of the total sample had NP impairment, with higher rates in groups with greater comorbidity burden (40%, 59%, and 83%). Prevalence estimates for specific HAND diagnoses (excluding severely confounded cases) were 33% for asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, 12% for mild neurocognitive disorder, and only 2% for HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Among participants with minimal comorbidities (n = 843), history of low nadir CD4 was a strong predictor of impairment, and the lowest impairment rate on CART occurred in the subset with suppressed plasma viral loads and nadir CD4 ≥200 cells/mm(3) (30% vs 47% in remaining subgroups). CONCLUSIONS: The most severe HAND diagnosis (HAD) was rare, but milder forms of impairment remained common, even among those receiving CART who had minimal comorbidities. Future studies should clarify whether early disease events (e.g., profound CD4 decline) may trigger chronic CNS changes, and whether early CART prevents or reverses these changes.

Association of self-reported painful symptoms with clinical and neurophysiologic signs in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy.

Sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) is a common cause of pain in HIV-infected people. Establishing a diagnosis of HIV-SN is important, especially when contemplating opioid use in high-risk populations. However physical findings of HIV-SN may be subtle, and sensitive diagnostic tools require specialized expertise. We investigated the association between self-report of distal neuropathic pain and/or paresthesias (DNPP) and objective signs of HIV-SN. Data were obtained from the Central Nervous System HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) study. Out of 237 participants, 101 (43%) reported DNPP. Signs of HIV-SN were measured by a modified Total Neuropathy Score (TNS), composed of six objective sensory subscores (pin sensibility, vibration sensibility, deep tendon reflexes, quantitative sensory testing for cooling and vibration, and sural sensory amplitude). Self-report of DNPP was associated with all six TNS items in univariate analysis and with four TNS items in multivariate analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of self-report of DNPP in detecting the presence of a sensory abnormality were 52% and 92%, respectively with a PPV of 96% and a NPV of 34%. Increasing intensity of pain measured on a visual analog scale was associated with increasing severity of sensory abnormality. In summary, our results suggest that HIV-infected patients reporting symptoms consistent with HIV-SN, such as tingling, pins and needles, or aching or stabbing pain in the distal lower extremities, usually have objective evidence of HIV-SN on neurologic examination or with neurophysiologic testing. This finding holds true regardless of demographic factors, depression or substance use history.

COMT Val158Met Polymorphism, Executive Dysfunction, and Sexual Risk Behavior in the Context of HIV Infection and Methamphetamine Dependence.

Catechol-O-methyltransferease (COMT) metabolizes prefrontal cortex dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter involved in executive behavior; the Val158Met genotype has been linked to executive dysfunction, which might increase sexual risk behaviors favoring HIV transmission. Main and interaction effects of COMT genotype and executive functioning on sexual risk behavior were examined. 192 sexually active nonmonogamous men completed a sexual behavior questionnaire, executive functioning tests, and were genotyped using blood-derived DNA. Main effects for executive dysfunction but not COMT on number of sexual partners were observed. A COMT x executive dysfunction interaction was found for number of sexual partners and insertive anal sex, significant for carriers of the Met/Met and to a lesser extent Val/Met genotypes but not Val/Val carriers. In the context of HIV and methamphetamine dependence, dopaminergic overactivity in prefrontal cortex conferred by the Met/Met genotype appears to result in a liability for executive dysfunction and potentially associated risky sexual behavior.

Demographic influences and suggested cut-scores for the Beck Depression Inventory in a non-clinical Spanish speaking population from the US-Mexico border region.

The Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI-I) is a self-report measure of depressive symptomatology that is widely used in both research and clinical settings. While the Spanish language version of the BDI-I is frequently used in the USA, there are currently no available guidelines to determine depressive symptomatology base rates in Spanish speaking populations using this instrument. In the present study, base rates of depressive symptoms and demographic influences on the BDI-I were measured in a non-clinical Spanish speaking population from the US-Mexico border region. A sample of 198 neurologically normal Spanish speaking individuals, mostly of Mexican decent, completed the BDI-I as part of a larger neuropsychological norming study. The results indicated that while there were no effects of age or education on overall BDI-I scores, those with lower education tended to report higher severity of individual symptoms. Consistent with findings in other populations, women endorsed a greater number of depressive symptoms. Therefore separate cut-scores were derived for men and women to represent these differences. Future research should assess the impact of acculturation and socioeconomic stressors on the BDI scores in this mostly immigrant population.

Lessons learned about behavioral science and acute/early HIV infection. The NIMH Multisite Acute HIV Infection Study: V.

Acute/early HIV infection is a period of heightened HIV transmission and a window of opportunity for intervention to prevent onward disease transmission. The NIMH Multisite Acute HIV Infection (AHI) Study was an exploratory initiative aimed at determining the feasibility of recruiting persons with AHI into research, assessing their psychosocial and behavioral characteristics, and examining short-term changes in these characteristics. This paper reports on lessons learned in the study, including: (1) the need to establish the cost-effectiveness of AHI testing; (2) challenges to identifying persons with AHI; (3) the need to increase awareness of acute-phase HIV transmission risks; (4) determining the goals of behavioral interventions following AHI diagnosis; and (5) the need for "rapid response" public health systems that can move quickly enough to intervene while persons are still in the AHI stage. There are untapped opportunities for behavioral and medical science collaborations in these areas that could reduce the incidence of HIV infection.

Negative mood and sexual behavior among non-monogamous men who have sex with men in the context of methamphetamine and HIV.

BACKGROUND: Research comparing the independent and combined contextual effects of methamphetamine dependence (METH) and HIV-infection (HIV) on mood and sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been sparse and inconsistent. This study examined the contextual influence of METH, HIV-infection and their combination on mood states and sexual behavior. METHODS: 175 non-monogamous MSM concordant or discordant for METH and HIV were included. Multivariate analysis was conducted to examine mood and sexual behavior differences between groups, as well as to elucidate the relationship between mood and sexual risk behavior and explore the potential moderator (i.e. contextual) effects of METH and/or HIV on this relationship. RESULTS: METH+/HIV+ participants reported condom use less than 25% of the time whereas METH-/HIV+ participants reported condom use 51-75% of the time. METH+ and HIV+ status were associated with higher depression and confusion scores. Univariate regressions revealed negative relationships between mood states (depression, tension, anger, fatigue and confusion) and condom use. Neither METH nor HIV status moderated the relationships between negative mood and condom use. LIMITATIONS: Results are derived from cross-sectional data, sample sizes for each of the four groups were relatively small, and condom use could not be linked to specific sexual practices and/or partner types. CONCLUSION: METH dependence, HIV seropositivity, and negative moods are associated with reduced condom use among non-monogamous MSM. Independent effects of METH dependence and negative mood on condom use suggest that sexual risk reduction interventions for MSM should incorporate multi-faceted approaches, including substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Chronic pain and depression among geriatric psychiatry inpatients.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether chronic pain among depressed geriatric inpatients was associated with several clinical variables-comorbid psychiatric and medical diagnoses, length of hospitalization, suicidal ideation, and sleep duration. METHODS: Medical charts of inpatients admitted to a geriatric psychiatry unit over 2 years were examined retrospectively; 148 patients with a depressive disorder were identified. Admission pain assessments were used to classify whether patients had chronic pain. Other variables of interest were collected from charts. RESULTS: 62% of patients reported chronic pain. In multivariate regression analysis, depressed older adults with chronic pain were more likely to report suicidal ideation, be diagnosed with personality disorder, have higher medical burden, and experience decreased total sleep time compared to depressed older adults without chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain--common in depressed older adults--may influence clinical features of depression and should be assessed as a possible suicide risk factor. Prospective studies should examine causal relationships and determine the effects of adequate pain treatment on depression course and suicide risk in older adults.

Diminished somatostatin gene expression in individuals with HIV and major depressive disorder.

In analyzing the expression of 15 candidate genes for HIV encephalitis (HIVE) by the presence or absence of major depressive disorder (MDD), we noted significant reductions in the expression of four cytoskeletal genes and somatostatin. Whereas disruption of cytoskeletal genes has been noted in HIVE, dysregulation of somatostatin has not, indicating that dysregulation of somatostatin is part of the molecular pathologic process of MDD in the setting of HIV.

Neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV infection among older adults.

Treatment advances such as the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have translated into greater life expectancy for HIV-infected individuals, which will ultimately result in a "graying" of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In addition, older individuals are engaging in a higher rate of high risk behaviors than had been previously expected. As such, study of older HIV-infected patients, including study of the psychiatric and neurocognitive aspects of the disease, appears highly indicated. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that HIV infection is associated with higher rates of several psychological/psychiatric disorders when compared to general population base rates. There is also a rich literature that has documented the adverse neurocognitive effects of HIV infection, ranging from subtle cognitive complaints to frank dementia, among younger adults. Although it has been hypothesized that older age may potentiate the deleterious effects of HIV infection, little is actually known, however, regarding the incidence, prevalence, course, and clinical features of HIV-associated psychiatric and cognitive dysfunction among older adults. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of HIV-associated cognitive and psychiatric disorder across the age spectrum, with particular focus on what is known regarding the interaction of advancing age and HIV infection. Future directions for research are suggested, including basic epidemiologic study of incidence and prevalence rates of neurodisease among older HIV-infected adults as well as investigations designed to determine whether the nature, severity, course, or treatment of such disorders differs among older versus younger patients.

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase sequence in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AIDS dementia complex treated with Abacavir.

OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV-1 RNA levels and the relationship between HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) genotype from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during treatment with abacavir (Ziagen, ABC) or placebo in combination with stable background therapy (SBG) in subjects with AIDS dementia complex (ADC) (study CNA3001). DESIGN: One-hundred and five HIV-1 infected adults with ADC were randomized to receive either ABC (600 mg twice daily) or ABC-matched placebo (twice daily) in addition to SBG for 12 weeks. METHODS: Plasma and CSF were collected for population sequencing at baseline and week 12 (CSF optional). Sequences were analyzed for mutations associated with resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI). RESULTS: Sixty out of sixty-seven subjects with baseline plasma HIV-RT sequence data harbored virus with > or = 1 NRTI-associated mutations; 50 out of 67 had the M184V mutation. At week 12, more subjects in the ABC group had plasma HIV-1 RNA < or = 400 copies/ml than the SBG group (46% versus 13%, P = 0.002). Non-response to ABC was associated with multiple baseline zidovudine (ZDV)/stavudine (d4T)-associated mutations. Baseline RT mutation patterns differed in 14 out of 21 (67%) paired samples from plasma and CSF. Four subjects experienced > 1 log10 copies/ml reductions in CSF HIV-1 RNA, two in the absence of reductions in plasma HIV-1 RNA and two with undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial decreases in plasma and CSF HIV-1 RNA following addition of ABC were not precluded by baseline HIV-1 NRTI-associated mutations, including the M184V mutation, but non-responders commonly harbored multiple ZDV/d4T-associated mutations. HIV-1 RNA responses and RT genotype appear to be discordant between CSF and plasma in some subjects.

The influence of HIV-related support groups on survival in women who lived with HIV. A pilot study.

To determine the effect of support groups on survival, the authors retrospectively studied 21 HIV-seropositive women who died during the course of participation in a natural history study of HIV. Groups were composed of women who self-selected HIV support groups before death (n = 11) and a comparison group (n = 10). Survival analysis found group participation to be associated with increased longevity (73 months vs. 45 months; P = 0.011). Proportional-hazards regression demonstrated that HIV-related support groups and smaller family size significantly influenced survival (P = 0.0002). Factors related to group participation and ways in which support groups might promote longevity are discussed.

Effects of noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressants on chronic low back pain intensity.

To understand the relative efficacy of noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressants as analgesics in chronic back pain without depression, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-control head-to-head comparison of maprotiline (a norepinephrine reuptake blocker) and paroxetine (a serotonin reuptake blocker) in 103 patients with chronic low back pain. Of these 74 completed the trial; of the 29 who did not complete, 19 were withdrawn because of adverse effects. The intervention consisted of an 8-week course of maprotiline (up to 150 mg daily) or paroxetine (up to 30 mg daily) or an active placebo, diphenhydramine hydrochloride (up to 37.5 mg daily). Patients were excluded for current major depression. Reduction in pain intensity (Descriptor Differential Scale scores) was significantly greater for study completers randomized to maprotiline compared to placebo (P=0.023), and to paroxetine (P=0.013), with a reduction of pain by 45% compared to 27% on placebo and 26% on paroxetine. These results suggest that at standard dosages noradrenergic agents may provide more effective analgesia in back pain than do selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors.

Cortical synaptic density is reduced in mild to moderate human immunodeficiency virus neurocognitive disorder. HNRC Group. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center.

Dendritic and synaptic damage (without frank neuronal loss) may be seen in milder human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cognitive disorders. Synapse volume estimates, performed by stereological methods, could enhance the ability to detect subtle neuronal changes that may accompany cognitive impairment in HIV infection. For the present study, synaptic density and neuronal number were assessed by combined stereology/confocal microscopy and these measures were then correlated with ante-mortem levels of cognitive performance in AIDS patients. Three-dimensional stereological measures showed a significant correlation between reduced synaptic density and poor neuropsychological performance. To evaluate the specificity of any observed associations, additional variables including viral burden, astrogliosis and number of calbindin-immunoreactive neurons were measured. Factor analysis of a set of neuropathological variables revealed two factors; one defined by synaptic density and volume fraction, calbindin pyramidal neuronal densities and viral burden; the second by astrocytosis and calbindin interneuron density. Only the first factor correlated significantly with neuropsychological functioning during life. It is concluded that a combination of factors including synaptic damage, specific neuronal loss and increasing viral load underlies HIV-associated cognitive impairment. As synaptic damage is potentially reversible, early diagnosis and treatment of mild cogntive disorders may improve functioning and prevent the progression of brain disease.

Cerebrospinal fluid tau protein is not elevated in HIV-associated neurologic disease in humans. HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group (HNRC).

We measured the concentrations of the neuron-specific protein, tau, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 neurologically characterized HIV-infected (HIVpos) subjects and nine matched seronegative (HIVneg) controls using a sensitive ELISA assay. Of 32 HIVpos subjects, nine had HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, and nine had clinically diagnosed peripheral neuropathies. CSF tau levels in subjects with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders were similar to those in HIVneg subjects (185 +/- 83 vs. 223 +/- 106 pg/ml; P = 57). CSF tau levels in HIVpos subjects with peripheral neuropathies did not differ from those without neuropathies (320 +/- 190 vs. 251 +/- 185; P = 23). In summary, CSF tau levels were not elevated in patients with HIV-associated neurologic disease.