Neurocognitive functioning and HAART in HIV and hepatitis C virus co-infection.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of HAART on neurocognitive functioning in persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection.


METHODS
A prospective study examining neurocognitive performance before and after HAART initiation.


METHODS
Participant groups included a mono-infected group (45 HIV+/HCV- participants) and a co-infected group (20 HIV+/HCV+ participants). A neuropsychological battery (attention/concentration, psychomotor speed, executive functioning, verbal memory, visual memory, fine motor, and gross motor functioning) was used to evaluate all participants. After 6 months of HAART, 31 HIV+ mono-infected and 13 HCV+/HIV+ co-infected participants were reevaluated.


RESULTS
Neurocognitive functioning by domain revealed significantly worse performance in the co-infected group when compared to the monoinfected group on domains of visual memory and fine motor functioning. Assessment of neurocognitive functioning after antiretroviral therapy revealed that the co-infected group was no longer performing worse than the monoinfected group.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the current study suggest that persons with HCV+/HIV+ co-infection may have greater neurocognitive declines than persons with HIV infection alone. HCV+/HIV+ co-infection may accelerate the progression of HIV related neurocognitive decline.
Parsons
Thomas D
TD
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7025, USA. tparsons@neurology.unc.edu
Tucker
Karen A
KA
Hall
Colin D
CD
Robertson
Wendy T
WT
Eron
Joseph J
JJ
Fried
Michael W
MW
Robertson
Kevin R
KR
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology