Neurodevelopmental benefits of antiretroviral therapy in Ugandan children aged 0-6 years with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient data on neurodevelopmental benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children.
METHODS: Prospective study of 329 mothers and children aged 0-6 years to assess neurodevelopment. Results stratified by the maternal (M) and child (C) HIV status (MHIV⁻/CHIV⁻, MHIV⁺/CHIV⁻, and MHIV⁺/CHIV⁺). Gross Motor, Visual Reception, Fine Motor, Receptive, and Expressive Language scores were assessed by Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Global cognitive function was derived from an Early Learning Composite (ELC) score. Standardized weight and height for age z scores were constructed, and the lowest 15% cutoff defined disability. Generalized linear models were used to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRR) adjusted for the child's age, weight, and height. In HIV-positive children, generalized linear models assessed the impact of ART initiation and duration on neurodevelopment.
RESULTS: Compared with MHIV⁻/CHIV⁻ children, HIV-positive children were more likely to have global deficits in all measures of neurodevelopment except gross motor skills, whereas in MHIV⁺/CHIV⁻ children, there was impairment in receptive language [adjusted PRR = 2.67; confidence interval (CI): 1·08 to 6.60] and the ELC (adjusted PRR = 2.94; CI: 1.11 to 7.82). Of the children born to HIV-positive mothers, HIV-positive children did worse than MHIV⁺/CHIV⁻ only in visual reception skills (adjusted PRR = 2.86; CI: 1.23 to 6.65). Of the 116 HIV-positive children, 44% had initiated ART. Compared with ART duration of <12 months, ART durations of 24-60 months were associated with decreased impairments in Fine Motor, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, and ELC scores.
CONCLUSIONS: Longer duration on ART is associated with reduction of some neurologic impairment and early diagnosis and treatment of HIV-positive children is a priority.