Abstract:

Objective To initially screen for the HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in HIV-1 infected patients in China. Methods The International HIV Dementia Scale and a neuropsychological test battery were administered for screening and diagnosis of HAND in 134 HIV-1 infected patients in China. Subjective complaints, CD₄ count and viral loads in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were correlated with diagnosis of HAND. Results The prevalence of HAND in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients was 37%. The presence of HAND was associated with cognitive and behavior disorder complaints (4.9 and 4.1 fold higher than those without HAND, respectively). The level of viral load in CSF correlated with that in blood, but neither viral load (both in CSF and in blood) nor CD₄ counts was found significantly different between HAND and non-HAND patients. Conclusion The prevalence of HAND in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients was 37%. Cognitive impairment is major complaint in HAND patients, followed by behavior disorder. None of viral load (viral load in CSF or in blood) and CD₄ counts could predict the occurrence and development of HAND. Larger sample size, longitudinal observation and additional laboratory characterizations are needed to better characterize neurocognitive function among HIV-infected people in China.

Key words: HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders, prevalence, clinical manifestation, Chinese population