Predominance of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus polyradiculomyelitis

Infections with viruses such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpesvirus group, cause sickness and death in patients with AIDS. CMV leads to a number of clinical syndromes, including diseases affecting the nervous system. Although uncommon, polyradiculomyelitis (inflammation of the nerve roots and the spinal cord) which is thought to be caused by CMV has been seen in a number of patients infected with HIV-1. The presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), a type of white blood cell, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AIDS patients was evaluated. CMV-induced-polyradiculomyelitis was found in four out of 241 patients who were infected with HIV and had neurological disease. All four patients had increased numbers of PMNs. In all of the 241 patients with neurological symptoms, only seven, including the four that had CMV-induced-polyradiculomyelitis, had large numbers of PMNs in their CSF. Therefore, it is concluded from this study that a predominance of PMNs in the CSF could indicate that the neurological condition is caused by CMV infection. The CMV infection could then be rapidly treated with drugs effective against cytomegalovirus. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)