Assessment of neuroAIDS in the international setting

Abstract

The global burden of the HIV epidemic is staggering, but in the short term, it is largely unfelt in the developed world. Almost one million people have been infected with HIV in North America, and the results of effective antiretroviral therapy have dramatically improved survival and quality of life. However, there are 25 million infected in sub-Saharan Africa alone, and antiretroviral treatment is scarce. Ninety-five percent of new infections occur in the developing world where resources are limited. Very little is known about NeuroAIDS in the developing world where few studies have been conducted on the neurologic and neurocognitive effects of antiretroviral treatment. HIV Clade differences and other factors could have dramatic effects on treatment effectiveness. There are a number of barriers in the assessment of neurological and neurocognitive effects in resource limited settings and some of these will be addressed.