ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT IN HIV-INFECTION - EARLY EEG AND OTONEUROLOGICAL CHANGES AND THEIR SIGNIFICATION FOR THE DISEASE PROGNOSIS

Electrophysiologic tests may be abnormal in asymptomatic HIV-1-infecte d individuals. Our study was aimed at determining whether these findin gs have a prognostic value and could be corrected by antiviral treatme nt. In 18 patients, followed for 34 or 43 months, these findings were not progressive. Only one patient developped Aids dementia complex (AD C). Three have died (one with normal, two with abnormal rests at basel ine). To study the effect of antiviral treatment, another group of sev en asymptomatic patients was included into a cross-over double-blind s tudy with either eight week zidovudine or eight weeks placebo, separat ed by eight more week without treatment. Electrophysiological evaluati on was also performed in a group of 15 patients before antiviral thera py with zidovudine or didanosine was started and again after a mean of three and 13 months treatment. Results did not suggest that treatment reverses early electroencephalographic and otoneurological changes se en in HIV-1 infection.