HIV genetic diversity between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with HIV encephalitis.

In patients with HIV encephalitis, a low viral diversity between the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HIV-1 viruses was associated with detectable HIV RNA in plasma and a higher level of central nervous system penetration effectiveness (CPE) score, taking into account the genotypic susceptibility score of the current treatment (named balanced score). This result suggests that the CSF viruses were probably originating from the plasma. Conversely, a high viral genetic diversity was associated with an undetectable HIV RNA in plasma and low-balanced CPE, which is in favour of an autonomous replication in the central nervous system.