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Correlation between computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities and neuropsychological function in children with
P Brouwers1, C DeCarli, L Civitello
1Pediatric Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical significance of computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities observed in children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus disease.
Patients:
Eighty-seven previously untreated children with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 disease.
Methods:
General levels of cognitive functioning, obtained from age-appropriate intelligence tests, and social-emotional behavior were correlated with computed tomographic brain scan abnormality ratings.
Results:
A significant relation between computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction as well as aberrant behavior was found, which appeared stronger in (younger) vertically infected children compared with transfusion-infected patients. Calcifications, independent from the degree of brain atrophy, were associated with significantly greater delays in neurocognitive development.
Conclusion:
Computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities, even when mild, were of clinical significance, suggesting that human immunodeficiency virus-associated central nervous system compromise is a continuous process and that scans may be helpful at baseline in defining patients at risk and for monitoring them during therapy.