Incidence and prevalence of HIV encephalopathy in children with HIV infection receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).

OBJECTIVE: To describe neurologic outcomes in children infected with HIV in the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), including rates of progressive HIV encephalopathy (PHE) and clinical sequelae among PHE survivors.

STUDY DESIGN: Neurobehavior and school placement was assessed prospectively in the year 2000 in 126 children infected with HIV. PHE, developmental delay, and attention deficit disorder (ADHD) were the main outcome variables analyzed. Predictors of PHE were assessed in controlled analysis among age-matched controls.

RESULTS: The rate of active PHE in 2000 was 1.6% (n = 2), and the prevalence of arrested PHE was 10% (n = 13). Residual motor and cognitive sequelae and need for special education was found in the majority of survivors. PHE relapse occurred in 3 (23%) children with previously arrested PHE. Viral load (VL) was the only significant factor associated with PHE. HIV or PHE was not associated with ADHD. Isolated developmental delay was not associated with HIV.

CONCLUSIONS: PHE is an infrequent and reversible complication of HIV infection that responds to HAART and that may relapse if control of the virus is lost. Children with arrested PHE show higher rates of residual neurologic, cognitive, and scholastic impairments compared with children who never had PHE. Children with arrested PHE are the group of children with HIV infection most at risk for PHE, in the form of a relapse.