Beta-amyloid (Aβ) uptake by PET imaging in older HIV+ and HIV- individuals

• Published in: Journal of neurovirology 2020-06, Vol.26 (3), p.382-390
• Main Authors: Mohamed, Mona, Skolasky, Richard L., Zhou, Yun, Ye, Weiguo, Brasic, James R., Brown, Amanda, Pardo, Carlos A., Barker, Peter B., Wong, Dean F., Sacktor, Ned
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Immunology; Infectious Diseases; Neurology; Neurosciences; Virology
• ISSN: 1355-0284; 1538-2443
• DOI: 10.1007/s13365-020-00836-1

The causes of cognitive impairment among older HIV+ individuals may overlap with causes among elderly HIV seronegative (HIV-) individuals. The objective of this study was to determine if beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition measured by [ 18 F] AV-45 (florbetapir) positron emission tomography (PET) is increased in older HIV+ individuals compared to HIV- individuals. Forty-eight HIV+ and 25 HIV- individuals underwent [ 18 F] AV-45 PET imaging. [ 18 F] AV-45 binding to Aβ was measured by standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) relative to the cerebellum in 16 cortical and subcortical regions of interest. Global and regional cortical SUVRs were compared by (1) serostatus, (2) HAND stage, and (3) age decade, comparing individuals in their 50s and >  60s. There were no differences in median global cortical SUVR stratified by HIV serostatus or HAND stage. The proportion of HIV+ participants in their 50s with elevated global amyloid uptake (SUVR > 1.40) was significantly higher than the proportion in HIV- participants (67% versus 25%, p  = 0.04), and selected regional SUVR values were also higher ( p