USE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES IN THE ETIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS
Objective. To evaluate the efficiency of molecular biological techniques (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) in the etiological diagnosis of opportunistic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with HIV infection. Subjects and methods. Ninety-six patients with HIV infection and clinical signs of CNS lesions were examined in the period January 2009 to June 2010. The examination involved a follow-up clinical study, neurological examination, and laboratory tests of peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (SCF). The results of a postmortem study were taken into consideration in case of a fatal outcome. Results. The DNA detection rate for pathogens of HIV-associated CNS infections was found to be related to the degree of immunodeficiency. PCR versus traditionally used laboratory tests was shown to be highly specific in the differential diagnosis of opportunistic CNS infections. Conclusion. The concurrent study of peripheral blood and SCF increases the efficiency of the etiological diagnosis of CNS lesions in HIV-infected patients.