Analyses of MRI scans of 26 asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals (HIV+)
and 10 HIV-seronegative psychiatric control subjects (HIV-) revealed an
incidental finding: 50% of the HIV+ subjects had discernible cleft in the
septum pellucidum (cavum septi pellucidi; CSP), compared to only 20% of the
HIV- control subjects. HIV+ subjects with CSP were more likely to complain
of sensory changes and performed more poorly on specific neuropsychological
tests when compared with HIV+ subjects without CSP. These findings suggest
that elevated rates of CSP are not limited to the schizophrenic population.
CSP may be a marker of premorbid events that increase the vulnerability to
cognitive and perhaps behavioral sequelae of neurologic disease or
injury.Abstract Teaser