Effects of antiretroviral therapy on cognitive impairment.
Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy, the manifestations of HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) involvement have generally become less severe and more manageable. Patients initiating antiretroviral therapy have demonstrated improvement in cognitive functioning. Reduction of viral burden has been correlated with improved CNS functioning. Recent studies have focused on the importance of CNS-penetrating antiretroviral regimens to target active replication in this protected compartment. There were initial conflicting reports of whether CNS-penetrating antiretrovirals improved cognitive functioning, with more evidence supporting the importance of CNS penetration in reducing viral burden and improving cognitive outcomes. Cognitive loss remains a feature of HIV infection, and some patients still suffer from incident or progressing cognitive and motor dysfunction even on combination therapy. Because the virus enters the CNS within days of initial infection, latent infection may be chipping away at the brain during the long asymptomatic period in HIV. When to start antiretrovirals for the maximum cognitive benefit remains to be determined.
School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3114 Bioinformatics Building CB7025, Neurology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7025, USA. kevinr@neurology.unc.edu
Kevin J
KJ
Liner
Colin D
CD
Hall
Kevin R
KR
Robertson
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents