Cognitive assessment of human immunodeficiency virus-exposed children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (1) the level of impairment in cognitive and motor functioning in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed and HIV-infected preschool and school-age children; (2) cognitive strengths and weaknesses that characterize HIV-infected children; and (3) potential contributions of serostatus, neurologic impairment, and prenatal drug-exposure to cognitive functioning.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, single-blind study.


METHODS
Pediatric neurology clinic at a large metropolitan hospital in New York, NY.


METHODS
Forty-one HIV-infected and eight seroreverter school-age children.


METHODS
The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities were administered to all children, as was the Neurologic Examination for Children.


RESULTS
The obtained mean of the sample on the McCarthy Scales' General Cognitive Index was in the Borderline range, with 44% of the subjects scoring in the Mentally Retarded range. The most severe cognitive deficits were found on the Quantitative, Verbal, and Memory scales (Borderline range). Children infected with HIV with neurologic impairment performed significantly worse than did seroverters and neurologically normal HIV-infected children. There were no significant differences in cognitive functioning due to gender, ethnicity, and prenatal drug exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive deficits were detected in HIV-infected and seroreverted children. The presence of neurologic dysfunction in HIV-infected children markedly intensified these deficits.
Levenson
R L
RL
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York.
Mellins
C A
CA
Zawadzki
R
R
Kairam
R
R
Stein
Z
Z
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011581:Psychological Tests