NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF INTERFERON ALFA-N3 TREATMENT IN ASYMPTOMATIC HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-1-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Eighteen asymptomatic HIV-1-infected (HIV+) individuals were evaluated neuropsychologically before and during Interferon Alfa-n3 treatment. All 18 were evaluated twice, and 9 were evaluated three times. Analyse s revealed few significant effects of treatment on cognitive, motor, a nd affective function. Improvements occurred over visits on measures o f attention and appeared to reflect practice effects. Decrements occur red over visits on measures of procedural and supraspan learning. Exam ination of the data suggested that decrements were due to procedural a rtifacts and were not medication effects. In contrast to prior studies reporting significant neuropsychiatric side effects of interferon alp ha treatment, fete such effects occurred when HIV+ individuals were tr eated with Interferon Alfa-n3 and were evaluated neuropsychologically in a systematic manner.