Joseph R. Berger, M.D.

Joseph R. Berger, M.D., is the Ruth L. Works Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine where he is director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic and the Neuro-AIDS Program.  Dr. Berger was a summa cum laude graduate of the Pennsylvania State University – Jefferson Medical College 5 Year Accelerated Medical Program and is member of Alpha Omega Alpha.  He completed his residency in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital and his neurology residency at the University of Miami School of Medicine.  In 1981, he joined the faculty of the University of Miami School of Medicine serving in both the Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine.  At that institution, he held the Whigham-Berger Endowed Chair for the study of the neurological complications of HIV/AIDS. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and a member of the American Neurological Association, currently serving as Treasurer of the latter. His research interests include the neurological complications of HIV/AIDS, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, and other inflammatory disorders of the brain.  He has been the recipient of numerous grants to support his research.  He has published more than 140 refereed papers, more than 80 chapters, and has edited three textbooks.  He is an Associate of the Journal of Neurovirology and has served or is serving on several other editorial boards.

Research Interests:

• Neurological Aspects of AIDS and HIV infection

• Infectious diseases of the nervous system

• Neurologic complications of systemic illness

• Multiple sclerosis
  

University of Kentucky

Chairman and Professor
Department of Neurology
University of Kentucky Medical Center
KY Clinic (Wing D)-L445
Lexington, KY 40536-0284

Office Telephone: (859) 323-6702, ext. 235
FAX: (859) 323-5943

E-mail: jrbneuro@pop.uky.edu

Board Certification: Neurology,  Internal Medicine

EDUCATION

1974 M.D.  Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA

1974-1975 Intern (Internal Medicine) Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.

1975-1977 Resident (Internal Medicine) Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.

1977-1978 Resident (Neurology) Hadassah Hospital, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

1978-1981 Resident (Neurology) Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

1995-present  Chairman, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY

1995-present  Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY

1995-present  Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY

HOSPITAL OR CLINICAL APPOINTMENTS

1995-present  University of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington, KY, Staff Neurologist

1995-present Consultant, Federal Medical Center, Lexington, KY


RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Romanelli F, Jennings JR, Ryan M, Nath A, Berger J: Therapeutic dilemma: the use of anticonvulsants in HIV seropositive individuals. Neurology 2000;54:1404-1407.

Berger JR: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Current Treatment Options in Neurology 2000;2:361-368.

Hoffmann M, Berger JR, Nath A: Cerebrovascular discease in young, HIV-infected, black Africans in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa. J NeuroVirol 2000;6:229-236.

Berger JR, Arendt G: HIV dementia: The role of the basal ganglia and dopaminergic systems. Journal of Neuropharmacology 2000;14:214-221.

Nath A, Maragos W, Avison M, Booze RM, Schmitt F, Anderson C, Berger JR: Acceleration of HIV dementia with methamphetamine and cocaine use: synergistic neurotoxicity. JNeuroVirol 2001;7:66-71.

O’Halloran HS, Berger JR, Lee WB, Robertson DM, Giovanni JA, Krobel GB, Meckler RJ, Selhorst JB, Lee AG, Micolle DA, O’Day J, Abou-Joude E: Acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy and central nervous system involvement; Nine new cases and a review of the literature. Ophthalmology 2001;108 (5): 861-868.

Lee WB, O’Halloran HS, Berger JR: Human immunodeficiency virus and bilateral optic

atrophy. Neuro-ophthalmology 2000;24 (4): 461-468.

Berger JR, Chauhan A, Galey D, Nath A: Epidemiological evidence and molecular basis of interactions between HIV and JC virus. J Neurovirol 2001; 7: 329-338.

Berger JR, Dobbs M, Terhune M, Maragos W: The neurological complications of scleromyxedema .Medicine 2001;80 (5):313-319.

Berger JR, Arioglu-Oral E, Taylor SL: A unique familial lipodystrophy associated with neurodegeneration and congenital cataracts: a novel syndrome. Neurology 2002; 58:43-47.

Bensalem MK, Berger JR: HIV and the central nervous system. Comprehensive Therapy 2002;28:23-33.

Avison MJ, Nath A, Berger JR: Understanding pathogenesis and treatment of HIV dementia: a role for magnetic resonance? Trends in Neuroscience 2002 Online at BioMedNet (http://bmn.com).01/18/07 36

Avison MJ, Nath A, Berger JR: Understanding pathogenesis and treatment of HIV dementia: a role for magnetic resonance? Trends in Neuroscience 2002;25(9):468-473.

Berger JR, Sabet A: Infectious myelopathies. Semin Neurol 2002;22:133-42.

Berger JR, Nath A: The pathogenesis of HIV dementia. Semin Neurol (In press).

Gutrecht JA, Jones HR, Mancall AC, Berger JR: Monofocal cerebral demyelination simulating brain tumors. South Med J 2002;95(10):1180-7.

Berger JR, Fannin M: The ‘bedsheet” Babinski. South Med J 2002;95(10):1178-9.

Ma M, Barnes G, Pulliam J, Jezek D, Baumann RJ, Berger JR: CNS angiitis in graft versus host disease. Neurology 2002;59:1994-1997.

Turchan J, Gairola C, Schifitto G, NEAD Consortium, Berger JR, Elford H, Nath A: Reversal of neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction caused by CSF from HIV demented patients with novel antioxidants. Neurology (In press)

Von Giessen HJ, Arendt G, Berger JR, Levy R: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on Neuroscience of HIV Infection: Emerging Issues. J Neurovirol 2002 Dec:8(suppl 2) 3-7.

Turchan J, Pocernich CV, Schifitto G, Butterfield DA, Buch S, Narayan O, Sinai A, Geiger J, Berger JR, Elford H, Nath A: Oxidative stress in HIV demented patients and reversal ex-vivo with novel antioxidants. Neurology 2003;60:307-314.

Lee WB, O’Halloran H, Berger JR: Parinaud’s syndrome as the presenting manifestation of multiple sclerosis: report of a case and review of the literature. Neurology. 2003;60(2):322.

Schutzer SE, Brunner M, Filit HM, Berger JR: Autoimmune markers in HIV associated dementia (HAD). J Neuroimmunology 2003;138:156-161.

Berger JR: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in AIDS: explaining the high incidence and disproportionate frequency of the illness relative to other immunosuppressive conditions. J Neurovirol 2003 Apr;9(Suppl 1):38-41.

Simpson DM, McArthur JC, Olney R, Clifford D, So Y, Ross D, Baird BJ, Barrett P, Hammer BS, Lamotrigine HIV Neuropathy Study Team: Lamotrigine for HIV-associated painful sensory neuropathies: A placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 2003;60:1508-1514.

Dobbs M, Berger JR: Cervical myelopathy secondary to violent tics of Tourette’s syndrome. Neurology 2003;60:1862-3.

Susac JO, Murtagh FR, Egan RA, Berger JR, et al: MRI findings in Susac’s syndrome. Neurology 2003;61:1783-87

Nath A, Berger JR: HIV dementia. Current Treatment Options in Neurology 2004 Mar; 6(2):139-151.

Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Bales R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Berger JR: Inflammatory changes and breakdown of microvascular integrity in early HIV dementia. J NeuroVirol 2004;(Feb)10:223-32. 01/18/07 37

Berger JR: The neurological complications of bariatric surgery. Arch Neurol 2004 Aug; 61(8): 1185-9.

Schutzer SE, Berger JR, Brunner M: Identification of potential antibody markers in HIVassociated dementia. J Neuroimmunology 2004;(Aug) 157:120-125.

Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Berger JR: Neruoimaging correlates of HIV-associated BBB compromise. J Neuroimmunol 2004 Dec;157(1-2):140-6.

Berger, JR, Avison MJ: The blood brain barrier in HIV infection. Frontiers in Bioscience Sept.1, 2004; 9: 2680-5.

Berger JR, Jones R, Wilson D: Intravascular lymphomatosis presenting with sudden hearing loss. J Neurol Sciences 2005; 232: 105-9.

Berger JR: Infectious Myelopathies. In Berger JR (Editor): Spinal Cord Disorders.

Continuum. 2005, June 11; 3: 46-65.

Berger JR, Espinosa PS, Kissel J: Brachial amyotrophic diplegia in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection: widening the spectrum of motor neuron diseases occurring with the human immunodeficiency virus. Arch Neurol 2005 May;62(5):817-23.

Hauser K, Hage NE , Berger JR, Tyor WR, Nath A, Bruce-Keller AJ, et al: Molecular targets of opiate drug abuse in neuro-AIDS. Neurotoxicity Research 2005;8 (1-2):1-18.

Berger JR, Avison MJ, Mootoor Y, Beach C: Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics and human immunodeficiency virus dementia: Preliminary observations. J Neurovirol 2005; 11: 557-562.

Espinosa PS, Berger JR: Volitional Opsoclonus. Neurology 2005; 65: 11.

Verma A, Berger JR: ALS symdrome in patients with HIV-1 infection. J Neurol Sciences 2006; 240: 59-64.

Wermeling DP, Berger JR: Ziconotide infusion for severe chronic pain: a case series of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, lumbar radiculitis, and HIV/antiretroviral therapy neuropathy. Pharmacotherapy 2006; 26 (3): 395-402.

Berger JR, Houff S: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: lessons from AIDS and natalizumab. Neurol Res 2006 Apr; 28 (3): 299-305.

Miller CS, Berger JR, et al: High prevalence of multiple human herpesviruses in salvia from human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). J Clinical Microbiol 2006 Jul;44(7):2409-15.

Berger JR, Miller CS, Mootoor Y, Avdiushko SA, Kryscio RJ, Zhu H: JC Virus detection in bodily fluids: clues to transmission. Clin Infect Dis 2006 Jul 1;43(1):e9-12. Epub 2006 May 30.

Schifitto G, Yiannoutsos CT, Simpson DM, Marra CM, Singer EJ, Kolson DL, Nath A, Berger JR, Navia B; Adult AIDS Cliinical Trials Group (ACTG) 301 Team: A placebo-controlled study of memantine for the treatment of HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. J Neurovirol 2006 Aug; 12 (4): 328-31. 01/18/07 38

Berger JR: Natalizumab. Drugs of Today (Barc). 2006 Oct; 42(10): 639-55.

Espinosa PS, Smith CD, Berger JR: Homonymous hemianopsia complicating treatment of  postoperative epistaxis. Neurology 2006 Oct 10; 67 (7): 1305.

Berger JR: Natalizumab and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Ann Rheum Dis 2006 Nov; 65 Suppl 3: iii48-iii53.

Espinosa PS, Smith CD, Berger JR: Alien hand syndrome. Neurology2006 Dec 26; 67 (12): E21.

Berger JR, Chumley W, Given C, Pittman T, Nuovo G: Persistent Coxsackie B encephalitis:

Report of a case and review of the literature. J Neruovirol 2006 Dec; 12 (6): 511-6.

Espinosa PS, Berger JR: Acute Central Cord Syndrome with Bodybuilder Sign (Accepted)

Avison MJ, Nath A, Greene-Avison R, Schmitt FA, Greenberg RN, Ethisham A, Berger JR:BBB compromise and plasma viral load in the pathogenesis of HIV dementia (Submitted)

Dobbs MR, Berger JR: Giant arteriovenous malformation of the brainstem and cervical spine as an unusual cause of foramen magnum syndrome (Accepted)

Polydefkis MD, Yiannoutsos C, Shriver S, Simpson DM, Cohen BA, Adornato BT, Hollnader H, Marra C, Clifford D, McArthur JC, and others: Intraepidermal nerve fiber density in HIVassociated sensory neuropathy. (Under Review).

Goodkin K, Eisdorfer C, Berger JR, Nath A: Implications of long-term treatment with potent antiretroviral therapy for prevalence of HIV-1-associated dementia and for the spectrum of HIV-1-associated cognitive-motor impairment. (Submitted).

Navia B, Schiffito G, Yiannoutsos CT, Shiffito G, Marra CM, Jarvik J, Chamg L, Ernst T,Miller EN, Singer E, Ellis R, Kolson DL, Simpson D, Nath A, Berger J, Lee Pl, Lipton SA, Gilberto Gonzalez R, and the Adult AIDS Clinical Trail Group (ACTG) 301 and 700 Teams: Aphase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Memantine and HIV-associated cognitive impairment: A neuropsychological and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Neurology (Accepted).

Khalili K, Lublin F, Berger JR: PML in MS meeting report. (Accepted).


SELECTED BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS


Berger JR, and Levy RM (editors): AIDS and the Nervous System, 2nd edition. Lippincott Raven Press, New York , 1996.

Nath A, Berger JR (editors): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker, New York , NY , March 2003.

Arendt G, Berger JR (Editors): The Neurological Complications of AIDS. In Preparation.

Portegies P, Berger JR (Editors): AIDS and HIV dementia. Vinken and Bruyn’s : Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 3rd Edition. Elsevier, Amsterdam . (In Press).

Berger JR: Tuberculosis of the Nervous System (Chapter 309). In Batjer H, Loftus C (eds). Textbook of Neurological Surgery: Principles and Practice. Volume 4. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia , PA , 2003.

Berger JR: Neurosyphilis. Ross K (Section Ed). In Aminoff M, Daroff RB (eds): The Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences. Volume 3.Academic Press, San Diego . 2003;592-599.

Berger JR: Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Tyler K (Section Ed). In Aminoff M, Daroff RB(eds). The Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences. Volume 3. Academic Press, San Diego . 2003;65-69.

Berger JR, Major EO, Sabath BF: JC Virus: Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. In Nath A and Berger JR (eds): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker. New York , NY. 2003;223.

Avison MA, Berger JR, McArthur JC, Nath A: HIV meningitis and dementia. Chapter 11. In Nath A and Berger JR (eds): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker. New York , NY . 2003;251- 276.

Fenichel G, Berger JR: Neurological complications of antiviral vaccines. Chapter 27. In Nath A and Berger JR (eds): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker. New York , NY . 2003;593-602.

Berger JR, Glitza I: Von Economo’s encephalitis. Chapter 24. In Nath A and Berger JR (eds): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker. New York , NY . 2003;523-542.

Nath A, Galey D, Berger JR: Neuropathogenesis of viral infections. Chapter 2. In Nath A and Berger JR (eds): Clinical Neurovirology. Marcel Dekker, New York , NY . 2003; 21-34.

Berger JR: Immunodeficiency diseases (Chapter 130). In Noseworthy JH (Editor): Neurologic Therapeutics:Principals and Practice. Martin Dunitz, London , UK . 2003.

Berger JR: Immunodeficiency diseases (Chapter 131). In Noseworthy JH (Editor): Neurological Therapeutics: Principles and Practice. Martin Dunitz, London , UK 2006; 1540.

Berger JR, Nath A: Approach to viral infections of the nervous system. Chapter 450. In Goldman L, Bennett JC (Eds): Cecil’s Textbook of Internal Medicine, 22nd Edition, W.B. Sunders. Philadelphia , PA. 2004.

Nath A, Berger JR: Poliomyelitis. Chapter 452. In Goldman L, Bennett JC (Eds): Cecil’s Textbook of Internal Medicine, 22nd Edition, W.B. Saunders. Philadelphia , PA. 2004.

Berger JR: Cryptococcal meningitis. In Goldstein GW, Waxman SG (Section Eds.), Gilman S (Ed.) Medlink Neurobase , Arbor Publications., La Jolla , California , 1994.

Berger JR: Cat-scratch disease. In Goldstein GW, Waxman SG (Section Eds.), Gilman S (Ed.) Medlink Neurology, Arbor Publications., La Jolla , California , 2004.

Nath A, Hauser KR, Prendergast M, Berger JR: Drugs abuse and neuro-AIDS. In Minagar A, Shapshak, P (Eds): Neuro-AIDS. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NY. (In Press)

Berger JR, Berger AJ: Neurosyphilis in AIDS. In Goodkin K (editor): NeuroAIDS Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge , UK (Submitted).

Berger J: Immunodeficiency diseases. In Noseworthy JH (Editor): Neurologic Therapeutics: Principles and Practice. Martin Dunitz, London , UK . In Press.

Sabet A and Berger JR: Stupor and Coma. In Corey-Bloom J (Editor): Adult Neurology, 2nd Edition, Mosby, St. Louis . In Press.

Avison MJ, Berger JR: Disruption of the blood brain Barrier in HIV infection. In Spray D, Nedergard M, Dermietzel R (eds): “Blood-brain-barrier interfaces” Wiley-VCH , New York , NY. (Submitted).

Berger JR: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. In Portegies P, Berger JR (eds): AIDS and HIV dementia. Vinken and Bruyn’s : Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 3rd Edition. Elsevier, Amsterdam . (In Press).

Berger JR, Nath A: The neurological complications of HIV. Cecil’s Textbook of Medicine (Submitted)

Nath A, Berger JR: Viral memingitis and encephalitis. Cecil’s Textbook of Medicine (Submitted)

Nath A, Berger JR: Rabies. Cecil’s Textbook of Medicine (Submitted)

Nath A, Berger JR: Poliomyelitis. Cecil’s Textbook of Medicine (Submitted)