A 12-month study of the effects of oral zidovudine on neurodevelopmental functioning in a cohort of vertically HIV-infected inner-city children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of oral zidovudine on the neurodevelopmental functioning of HIV-infected children.


METHODS
Oral zidovudine was administered to 54 symptomatic children with vertically transmitted HIV infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention class P2). All children were recruited from an inner-city pediatric HIV/AIDS outpatient clinic and ranged in age from 2 months to 12 years and 11 months (mean age, 3 years) at entry. Neurodevelopmental functioning, height and weight, and lymphocyte subpopulation data were ascertained for all the children pretherapy, and 6 and 12 months post-therapy initiation.


RESULTS
Analysis of the 6- and 12-month post-initiation drug data found no significant change in neurodevelopmental functioning. Height and weight percentiles remained the same or improved in the majority of children. CD4+ cell counts declined over the treatment period with CD4+ counts < 500 x 10(6)/l observed in 15% of the children pre-therapy, and 33% after 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast with previously published data, the present study observed no improvement in neurodevelopmental functioning in HIV-infected children treated with oral zidovudine.
Nozyce
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, NY 10457.
Hoberman
M
M
Arpadi
S
S
Wiznia
A
A
Lambert
G
G
Dobroszycki
J
J
Chang
C J
CJ
St Louis
Y
Y
D001741:Black or African American; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine