A diffusion tensor imaging and neurocognitive study of HIV-positive children who are HAART-naïve "slow progressors".

Journal: Journal of neurovirology

Volume: 18

Issue: 3

Year of Publication: 2012

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. hoare.jax@googlemail.com

Abstract summary 

There are few neuropsychological or neuroimaging studies of HIV-positive children with "slow progression". "Slow progressors" are typically defined as children or adolescents who were vertically infected with HIV, but who received no or minimal antiretroviral therapy. We compared 12 asymptomatic HIV-positive children (8 to 12 years) with matched controls on a neuropsychological battery as well as diffusion tensor imaging in a masked region of interest analysis focusing on the corpus callosum, internal capsule and superior longitudinal fasciculus. The "slow progressor" group performed significantly worse than controls on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence Verbal and Performance IQ scales, and on standardised tests of visuospatial processing, visual memory and executive functioning. "Slow progressors" had lower fractional anisotropy (FA), higher mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in the corpus callosum (p= <0.05), and increased MD in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, compared to controls. A correlation was found between poor performance on a test of executive function and a test of attention with corpus callosum FA, and a test of executive function with lowered FA in the superior longitudinal fasiculus. These data suggest that demyelination as reflected by the increase in RD may be a prominent disease process in paediatric HIV infection.

Authors & Co-authors:  Hoare Jacqueline J Fouche Jean-Paul JP Spottiswoode Bruce B Donald Kirsty K Philipps Nicole N Bezuidenhout Heidre H Mulligan Christine C Webster Victoria V Oduro Charity C Schrieff Leigh L Paul Robert R Zar Heather H Thomas Kevin K Stein Dan D

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006 Mar;27(3):656-60
Authors :  14
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1007/s13365-012-0099-9
SSN : 1538-2443
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
Other Terms
Study Design
Longitudinal Study,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States