Table 1.
Summary of recent studies on general cognition in HIV-infected children
| Study | Participants | Age (range) | Measure | Findings | Antiretroviral therapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koekkoek et al. 2008 [26]
The Netherlands |
22 PHIV+ | Median 9.46 years (6–13.5) | SON-R | No gross cognitive deficits compared to normative values |
Median age HAART initiation 5.6 years |
| Smith et al. 2012 USA+Puerto Rico [14] |
270 PHIV+/noC 88 PHIV+/C 200 PHEU |
7–16 years | WISC-IV | Scores significantly lower for PHIV+/C group afteradjusting for covariates 77.8 vs. 83.4 and 83.3 | Median age: first ART 0.6 years; first dual therapy 1.25 years |
| Blanchette et al. 2002 [27]
Canada |
14 PHIV+ 11 control siblings |
6.3–14 years | WISC-R or WISC-III | Mean FISQ 91.7 vs. 100.5 | 12 were on ART |
| Ruel et al. 2011 Uganda [13] | 93 PHIV+ 106 HIV− |
Median 8.7 years (6–12) |
KABC-2 | PHIV+ performed worse than HIV- children | All children above WHO threshold for ART initiation |
| Bagenda 2006 Uganda [12] |
28 HIV+ 42 HEU 37 HIV− |
6–12 years | KABC | No significant difference | ART-naïve |
| Wood 2009 USA [25] |
81 PHIV+ 38 PHIV+/C 43 PHIV+/noC |
Median 15.2 years (11–24) |
WISC-IV or WASI | Median FISQ of PHIV+/noC fell within normal range; Median FISQ of HIV+/C in below average range | Median age: ART initiation: 3.1 years; Median age: HAART initiation: 6.5 years |
| Puthanakit et al. 2010 [11]
Thailand |
39 HIV + 40 – affected 42 healthy controls |
Median 9.3 years (6–12) |
WISC-III | Mean FISQ of HIV+ and affected groups significantly lower than healthy controls 79 vs. 88 vs. 96 p<0.01 |
87% on ART for median of 35 weeks (IQR 29–53) |
| Puthanakit et al. 2013 [29]
Thailand, Cambodia |
284 PHIV+, 155 PHEU, 164 PHU | Median age 9 years (1–12) |
WISC-Thai | No difference between early and deferred ART initiation RCT arms. PHIV+ children performance worse than PHEU and PHU on IQ | Early versus deferred HAART at enrolment from 1 to 12 years of age |
| Hoare et al. 2012 South Africa [24] |
12 PHIV+ 12 HIV – community controls |
8–12 years | WASI: verbal performance |
Mean scores: 87.8 vs. 101.2 73.7 vs. 85.7 |
ART-naïve |
PHIV+/C Perinatally HIV-infected with a previous class C event.
PHIV+/noC Perinatally HIV-infected with no past history of class C event.
KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for children.
KABC-2 Kaufman Assessment Battery for children, 2nd edition.
SON-R Snijders-Oomen nonverbal intelligence test for children and adolescents (abridged).
WASI Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.
WISC-R Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children –Revised.
WISC-III & IV Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children versions 3, 4. WISC-Thai Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Thai version.