NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENTS FOLLOWING HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME

Recently an outbreak of acute respiratory infection associated with th e hantavirus occurred in the southwestern United States. Hantavirus pu lmonary syndrome (HPS) is a life threatening illness that carries with it a high mortality rate. Patients with HPS experience prolonged peri ods of hypoxemia requiring mechanical ventilation and treatment in int ensive care units. We have recently seen 2 survivors of HPS. A neurops ychological test battery was administered immediately following their acute hospitalization and at 1 year postrecovery from HPS. Both patien ts exhibited cognitive impairments immediately following HPS as well a s persistent cognitive impairments at 1 year. The cognitive impairment s seen in these two HPS survivors are similar to those seen in other p atients who have experienced brain anoxia, including memory impairment s. It is also possible that hantavirus may directly cause brain injury with concomitant cognitive impairments. Additional research needs to be carried out in order to determine the extent and severity of the co gnitive impairments in survivors of HPS.