Acquired immune deficiency syndrome and multiple tract degeneration in a homosexual man.

A 35-year-old homosexual man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome developed progressive dementia and spastic quadriparesis over a two-month period. Severe symmetrical, bilateral degeneration of the corticospinal and frontopontine fibers and cerebellar white matter were found postmortem. Several glial nodules in the brainstem and cerebellum suggested "smoldering" brainstem encephalitis. The possible association of the adenovirus that was isolated from the patient's cerebrospinal fluid to these obscure changes in the central nervous system is discussed.