title: Neurocognition in individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C.
abstract: Due to similar routes of viral transmission, many individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are also infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Each virus can cause cognitive compromise among mono-infected individuals; evidence is accumulating that HIV/HCV co-infection may have a particularly deleterious impact on cognition. We present neuropsychological data obtained from 118 HIV+ adults with advanced HIV disease, 35 of whom were co-infected with HCV, who completed a comprehensive neurocognitive evaluation. Rates of global cognitive impairment were higher among co-infected patients than among those with HIV alone (63% vs. 43%). Within the specific domains of learning and memory, co-infected individuals were significantly more likely to be impaired than were the HIV mono-infected participants. Finally, we discuss implications of these findings and potential future directions for research in this area.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Room C8-747, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. chinkin@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hinkin
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Castellon
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Terry R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Elyse J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens