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Slowed reaction time in HIV-1-infected patients without AIDS
A Mellgren1, G Norkrans, L Hagberg
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Objectives:
To investigate if HIV-1-infected patients without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have cerebral dysfunction as reflected by impaired reaction times compared to patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Material And Methods:
Forty-one HIV-1-infected patients not fulfilling the AIDS criteria, were tested with three reaction time tests and compared to controls 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 +/- 2 SD). No correlation was found between reaction time and immune status measured as CD4-cell count.
Conclusion:
This study indicates that a subgroup of HIV-1-infected individuals have slower reaction time compatible with cerebral deterioration early in the course of the infection.