title: Rates of non-confounded HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in men initiating combination antiretroviral therapy during primary infection.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in HIV-infected participants who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during primary infection.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  
  HIV-infected men without neuropsychiatric confounds who had initiated cART during primary infection were administered a neuropsychological battery as well as questionnaires evaluating depression and quality of life. Eligibility was determined by a medical examination with history and review of records.
  
  
  
  Twenty-six primarily non-Hispanic white (73%), male (100%) participants were enrolled and underwent neurocognitive assessment. Mean age was 44 (28-71) years, with a median of 17 years of education (13-24). Median current and nadir CD4 T-cell counts were 828 (506-1411) and 359 (150-621) cells/μl. All participants had plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/ml. Median duration of cART prior to enrolment was 5.7 years (2.2-9.9). Median global deficit score was 0.17 (0.00-0.60). Only one (4%) participant was impaired.
  
  
  
  Rates of HAND in this cohort of HIV-infected men without comorbid conditions who initiated early cART are low. Our findings suggest a possible neuroprotective benefit of early cART and an important contribution of comorbidities to observed HAND prevalence.
authors.affiliation: aAaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, an affiliate of the Rockefeller University bMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center cIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA. *Current address for Donald Garmon: Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Teresa H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Evering
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Applebaum
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Mar
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garmon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents