ASSOCIATION OF BASE-LINE NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION AND PROGRESSION OF ILLNESS OVER 4 YEARS IN HIV-SEROPOSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

The authors conducted a study to examine the association between neuro psychological markers of central nervous system impairment and systemi c human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression in a sample o f 64 HIV-positive asymptomatic patients who were followed for a median of 45.6 months. Patients with poorer baseline scores on the Halstead- Reitan Trail-Making A neuropsychological test developed HIV-related sy stemic symptoms earlier over the study period than patients with the h igher scores on the same test (P < 0.05). Subclinical neuropsychologic al dysfunction in otherwise asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals may be a harbinger of progressive HIV-related immunologic dysfunction.