In the decade-plus since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV infection, doctors have come to understand that the brain can serve as a reservoir for resistant virus, where it causes a whole different set of symptoms scientists call neuro-AIDS. A new book from ASM Press, The Spectrum of Neuro-AIDS Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment, presents the full scope of research on the neurological and neurobehavioral implications of HIV/AIDS in a single, unique volume.
"This book represents a compendium of knowledge that is unique to the field of neuro-AIDS. At this point in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), we have come to appreciate, more than ever before, the implications of the brain as an organ that becomes a reservoir for resistant HIV, contributing to a deleterious impact of this chronic infection on patient functioning. The book is designed to present a coordinated focus on the integration of knowledge regarding the pathophysiological bases, diagnostic approaches, and clinical treatment strategies specific for neuro-AIDS conditions in the HAART era today," says Karl Goodkin of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California-Los Angeles who co-edited the book with Paul Shapshak of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and Ashok Verma of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
In this book, noted researchers from all over the world examine the wide range of HIV-associated neurological and neurobehavioral disorders. Neuro-AIDS can affect the entire neuraxis, resulting in physiological, neurological, and neurobehavioral deficits ranging from distal sensory polyneuropathy and primary CNS lymphoma to HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and disorders including HIV-associated dementia. Toxicities of the antiretroviral medications themselves are a serious concern.
This book presents the wide variety of HIV-associated disorders and comorbidities with a look at the pre-HAART literature as well as the latest findings from the post-HAART era. Pathophysiology and selected neuroimaging techniques for diagnosis and assessment are examined in detail. In addition, this volume stands out for its chapters on specific patient populations such as women, children, minorities, and older persons, as well as special chapters addressing medico-legal and end-of-life concerns. The book concludes with a look at global issues and the future of neuro-AIDS in the HAART era.
"While the literature in this area advances rapidly, we hope that this volume will retain its appeal over time by its structured approach to the epistemology of neuro-AIDS knowledge. We anticipate that this presentation of the conceptual underpinnings of the neuro-AIDS field will allow new data to continue to be added to the organizational tree of knowledge, resulting in a timeless value for its readers," says Goodkin.
The Spectrum of Neuro-AIDS Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment has a list price of $199.95 and can be purchased through ASM Press online at http://estore.asm.org or through other online retailers.
ASM Press is the book publishing arm of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the oldest and largest single life science membership organization in the world. The ASM's mission is to promote research in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policy makers, and the public to improve health and foster economic well-being.