Slowed reaction time in HIV-1-infected patients without AIDS

Objectives - To investigate if HIV-1-infected patients without acquired imm unodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have cerebral dysfunction as reflected by imp aired reaction times compared to patients with chronic hepatitis C. Materia l and Methods - Forty-one HIV-1-infected patients not fulfilling the AIDS c riteria, were tested with three reaction time tests and compared to control s with chronic hepatitis C. matched according to gender and age. Results - HIV-1-infected individuals had, in mean, 5-47 ms longer reaction time than patients with hepatitis C (statistically significant in two of three tests) . All but 9 HIV-1-infected individuals had, however, reaction times within the normal range defined by the control group (mean 1-2 SD). No correlation was found between reaction time and immune status measured as CD4-cell cou nt. Conclusion - This study indicates that a subgroup of HIV-1-infected ind ividuals have slower reaction time compatible with cerebral deterioration e arly in the course of the infection.