Central nervous system effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Following its early entry into the central nervous system (CNS), HIV-1 alters cerebral cell architecture and may subsequently affect higher cognitive functions, leading eventually in some patients to HIV-1 encephalopathy. The CNS may also be the target of opportunistic infections and malignancy secondary to HIV-1 immunosuppression. Studies at the cellular, anatomical, and behavioral levels present evidence for significant involvement of the CNS in HIV-1 disease, while initial reports of treatment strategies hold promise for providing some amelioration in affected individuals.