NEUROBEHAVIORAL FUNCTIONING IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-1-INFECTED WOMEN

Numerous reports have assessed the neuropsychological functioning of m edically asymptomatic HIV-1 infected men. However, to date there have been no published studies of the neuropsychological functioning of asy mptomatic HIV-1 infected women, even though women represent the fastes t-growing demographic group of HIV-1 infected individuals. In this inv estigation, 31 women (17 asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive, 14 seronegat ive) were administered a battery of neurocognitive and neuropsychiatri c instruments. Participants in both groups were matched for age, educa tion, months since injection drug use, and substance use. Group compar isons revealed no significant differences in any of the neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric measures. The results of this preliminary study s uggest that clinically significant differences in neurobehavioral func tion are unlikely in medically asymptomatic HIV-1 infected women compa red to seronegative controls. However, additional studies are needed w ith larger sample sizes and with careful attention to possible confoun ding or masking variables.