Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential in HIV-Positive Adults

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can affect the central nervous system.
• Antiretroviral treatment (ART) is standard care for HIV, but its long-term effects on auditory pathways are not fully understood.
• Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) is a neurophysiological test assessing the integrity of the auditory pathway from the cochlea to the brainstem.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize BAEP findings in HIV-positive individuals.
• To compare BAEP in HIV-positive individuals exposed versus not exposed to ART.
• To assess for central auditory pathway dysfunction in HIV-positive individuals.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study design.
• BAEP assessment in 45 HIV-positive individuals (18 not exposed to ART, 27 exposed to ART) and 30 HIV-negative controls.
• Analysis of wave latencies and percentage of altered BAEP results.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in wave latencies between HIV-positive groups (exposed vs. not exposed to ART) and controls.
• A higher percentage of altered BAEP was found in HIV-positive individuals compared to controls.
• The most frequent BAEP alterations were observed in the low brainstem region.

Conclusions:

• HIV-positive individuals exhibit a higher prevalence of altered BAEP, suggesting central auditory pathway impairment.
• ART exposure did not show a significant impact on BAEP findings in this cohort.
• BAEP alterations in HIV-positive individuals highlight the need for audiological monitoring.