HAART is neuroprophylactic in HIV-1 infection.
BACKGROUND
To find out about the prophylactic value of antiretroviral therapy on HIV-1-associated subclinical and clinical psychomotor slowing as one marker of HIV-1-associated CNS disease.


METHODS
Prospective study with regular clinical and neurophysiologic examination every three months of 1482 consecutive HIV-1-seropositive and AIDS patients seen at our department till June 30, 1999.


RESULTS
Antiretroviral therapy has a significant prophylactic value over an individual observation period of ten years with regard to the first, potentially transient manifestation of HIV-1-associated subclinical psychomotor slowing and with regard to the clinical manifestation of motor signs. However, a subgroup of patients is characterized through a second, more sustained manifestation of subclinical psychomotor slowing which cannot be prevented by any type of currently available antiretroviral therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the existence of different pathomechanisms underlying HIV-1-associated brain disease which may in part be effectively prevented, but which in part also escape all antiretroviral treatment strategies in use today.
von Giesen
H J
HJ
Department of Neurology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. giesenhj@uni-duesseldorf.de
Hefter
H
H
Jablonowski
H
H
Arendt
G
G
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents