Correlation between computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities and neuropsychological function in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical significance of computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities observed in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus disease.


METHODS
Eighty-seven previously untreated children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 disease.


METHODS
General levels of cognitive functioning, obtained from age-appropriate intelligence tests, and social-emotional behavior were correlated with computed tomographic brain scan abnormality ratings.


RESULTS
A significant relation between computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction as well as aberrant behavior was found, which appeared stronger in (younger) vertically infected children compared with transfusion-infected patients. Calcifications, independent from the degree of brain atrophy, were associated with significantly greater delays in neurocognitive development.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities, even when mild, were of clinical significance, suggesting that human immunodeficiency virus-associated central nervous system compromise is a continuous process and that scans may be helpful at baseline in defining patients at risk and for monitoring them during therapy.
Brouwers
P
P
Pediatric Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.
DeCarli
C
C
Civitello
L
L
Moss
H
H
Wolters
P
P
Pizzo
P
P
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed