Neurological disorders in children vertically infected with HIV

Introduction
The risk of CNS changes in vertical HIV infection is high. The frequency and severity of disorders are connected to disease stage, the age of first symptoms, progression, child's actual age and medications' neurotoxicity.

The aim of the study
The aim of the study is to identify and determine the frequency of neurological disorders, and to identify factors influencing the occurrence of those disorders.

Materials and methods
The study was retrospective and partially prospective. It included 67 children vertically infec¬ted with HIV, aged from 2 months to 20 years of age. Neurological disorders were assessed by physical examination, including a detailed neurological examination. In the study, virological laboratory tests (VL HIV RNA) and percentage of CD4-1" lymphocytes (immunological classification) were analyzed.

Results
Abnormal neurological examination was obser¬ved in 18 patients. In 10 of the 18 patients, neurological disorders were found in their first year of life. The most common neurological complication was HIV encephalopathy (HE).

Conclusion
The occurrence of neurological disorders is influenced by the degree of immunodeficiency, HIV viral load at diagnosis, and age of initiation of ARV therapy. Star¬ting ARV treatment <12 months of age has a neuroprotective effect.