Slowed reaction time in HIV-1-infected patients without AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if HIV-1-infected patients without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have cerebral dysfunction as reflected by impaired reaction times compared to patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Forty-one HIV-1-infected patients not fulfilling the AIDS criteria, were tested with three reaction time tests and compared to controls with chronic hepatitis C, matched according to gender and age.


RESULTS
HIV-1-infected individuals had, in mean, 5-47 ms longer reaction time than patients with hepatitis C (statistically significant in two of three tests). All but 9 HIV-1-infected individuals had, however, reaction times within the normal range defined by the control group (mean +/- 2 SD). No correlation was found between reaction time and immune status measured as CD4-cell count.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that a subgroup of HIV-1-infected individuals have slower reaction time compatible with cerebral deterioration early in the course of the infection.
Mellgren
A
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Norkrans
G
G
Hagberg
L
L
Dunlop
O
O
Wejstål
R
R
Gisslén
M
M
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric