Neurocognitive function profile in HIV-infected school-age children.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of neurocognitive function of school-age children with HIV.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
Twenty-two children (median age 9.46 years) with perinatally acquired HIV infection were administered a global intelligence test and tests from the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks (ANT) program. The relationship between various patient-, disease- and treatment factors and neurocognitive outcome variables was examined.


RESULTS
Compared with age-appropriate norms, mean IQ of the HIV-infected children was in the average range. However, the HIV-infected children performed poorer on several neuropsychological tests compared with age-appropriate norms. Executive function (attentional flexibility, visuospatial working memory) and processing speed emerged as the most sensitive cognitive measures in relation to HIV disease. The correlational analyses resulted in only two significant outcomes, showing that higher CD4% at initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and longer treatment duration were associated with better working memory function and attentional control, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These exploratory data suggest that subtle neurocognitive impairments may exist in HIV-infected school-age children, in particular characterized by compromised executive function and slowed information processing. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings.
Koekkoek
Sanneke
S
Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.koekkoek@jeugdriagg-nhz.nl
de Sonneville
Leo M J
LM
Wolfs
Tom F W
TF
Licht
Rob
R
Geelen
Sibyl P M
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis