Otoneurological abnormalities in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive patients

Twenty-four male patients, all homosexual except one, with asymptomatic HIV-infection were studied. The patients had no signs of opportunistic CNS-infections but 6 had been treated for syphilis. The patients were tested with auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry and with oculomotor tests (saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements). The ABR-recordings were pathological in 38% of the cases and the oculomotor tests in 50% of the cases. Abnormality of either one or of both methods were seen in 67% of the patients tested. The duration of the HIV-infection had no influence on the test results. The abnormal otoneurological tests indicate that occult CNS-dysfunction is a frequent finding in asymptomatic HIV-positive patients.