One for all, all for one: neuro‐HIV multidisciplinary platform for the assessment and management of neurocognitive complaints in people living with HIV

Abstract

Background With ageing, comorbidities such as neurocognitive impairment increase among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, addressing its multifactorial nature is time‐consuming and logistically demanding. We developed a neuro‐HIV clinic able to assess these complaints in 8 h using a multidisciplinary approach. Methods People living with HIV with neurocognitive complaints were referred from outpatient clinics to Lausanne University Hospital. Over 8 h participants underwent formal infectious disease, neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations, with opt‐out magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture. A multidisciplinary panel discussion was performed afterwards, with a final report weighing all findings being produced. Results Between 2011 and 2019, a total of 185 PLWH (median age 54 years) were evaluated. Of these, 37 (27%) had HIV‐associated neurocognitive impairment, but they were mainly asymptomatic (24/37, 64.9%). Most participants had non‐HIV‐associated neurocognitive impairment (NHNCI), and depression was prevalent across all participants (102/185, 79.5%). Executive function was the principal neurocognitive domain affected among both groups (75.5% and 83.8% of participants impaired, respectively). Polyneuropathy was found in 29 (15.7%) participants. Abnormalities in MRI were found in 45/167 participants (26.9%), being more common among NHNCI (35, 77.8%), and HIV‐1 RNA viral escape was detected in 16/142 participants (11.2%). Plasma HIV‐RNA was detectable in 18.4% out of 185 participants. Conclusions Cognitive complaints remain an important problem among PLWH. Individual assessment from a general practitioner or HIV specialist is not enough. Our observations show the many layers of HIV management and suggest that a multidisciplinary approach could be helpful in determining non‐HIV causes of NCI. A 1‐day evaluation system is beneficial for both participants and referring physicians.

Cerebrospinal Fluid HIV-1 Escape in Patients With Neurocognitive Symptoms: Pooled Data From a Neuro-HIV Platform and the NAMACO Study

“…The neuro-HIV platform receives 2 to 3 PLWH with symptomatic or suspected NCI per month. 31 Platform patients can be of any age, from all over Switzerland, and enrolled in the SHCS or not. All are offered a full diagnostic work-up with specialist neurological, neuropsychological, psychiatric and HIV evaluation, brain MRI, and LP (universal testing approach, opt-out consent).…”