title: Neuropsychological effects of Interferon Alfa-n3 treatment in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected individuals.
abstract: Eighteen asymptomatic HIV-1-infected (HIV+) individuals were evaluated neuropsychologically before and during Interferon Alfa-n3 treatment. All 18 were evaluated twice, and 9 were evaluated three times. Analyses revealed few significant effects of treatment on cognitive, motor, and affective function. Improvements occurred over visits on measures of attention and appeared to reflect practice effects. Decrements occurred over visits on measures of procedural and supraspan learning. Examination of the data suggested that decrements were due to procedural artifacts and were not medication effects. In contrast to prior studies reporting significant neuropsychiatric side effects of interferon alpha treatment, few such effects occurred when HIV+ individuals were treated with Interferon Alfa-n3 and were evaluated neuropsychologically in a systematic manner.
authors.affiliation: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Rockville, Maryland 20850. rmapou@hiv.hjf.org
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mapou
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Skillman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha