A prospective four-year follow-up of neuropsychological function in HIV seropositive and seronegative methadone-maintained patients.
The evolution of central nervous system (CNS) impairments associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was assessed by a prospective, longitudinal study of patients in a methadone maintenance clinic. At a mean of 47 months after baseline testing, which included physical exams, HIV antibody testing and a neuropsychological (NP) screening battery, 121 subjects received a second NP assessment. Forty subjects (33%) who were seropositive at baseline showed statistically significant declines in NP function over the 4 years compared with 81 seronegatives, on the Finger Tapping and Trail Making B tests. This relatively long-term follow-up suggests that subtle cognitive deficits develop over time and can be identified early, but their course is slow and appears generally to parallel that of non-CNS symptoms/signs of HIV infection.
Silberstein
C H
CH
Department of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467.
O'Dowd
M A
MA
Chartock
P
P
Schoenbaum
E E
EE
Friedland
G
G
Hartel
D
D
McKegney
F P
FP
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009519:New York City; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D008691:Methadone