title: Effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on psychomotor performance in children with HIV disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the effects of HAART on psychomotor performance of symptomatic HIV-infected children. It is one of the first studies to look at neurobehavioral functioning in children infected with HIV in resource-limited countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal pilot study of vertically HIV-infected children at the HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 34 children participated in the study of whom 16 had never received antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and were about to start HAART (Newly treated children), 7 did not receive antiretroviral therapy (Untreated children) and 11 had been treated with HAART for more than one year (HAART experienced children). All children were administered 4 psychomotor tasks at baseline and after 4 months. The Newly treated and the Untreated children were also evaluated after 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the children performed similarly on all psychomotor tasks at baseline. After 12 months of HAART, there was a significant increase in CD4% in the Newly treated group. Overall, psychomotor performance did not change at the 4-month evaluation in all groups. At the 12-month evaluation psychomotor performance had deteriorated substantially on all tasks in both the Newly treated and the Untreated children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in psychomotor functioning between children newly treated, previously treated and untreated with HAART over the course of one year. Psychomotor performance deteriorated after 12 months of HAART, which provides important indications concerning the lack of benefits of HAART on psychomotor functions in children despite immunologic reconstitution. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Sanneke_k@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sanneke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koekkoek
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Sonneville
authors.forename: Thidakat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jupimai
authors.forename: Saijai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicharuk
authors.forename: Wichitea
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Apateerapong
authors.forename: Theshinee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chuenyam
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wit
authors.forename: Chitsanu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pancharoen
authors.forename: Praphan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phanuphak
authors.forename: Jintanat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ananworanich
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents