Structural Neuroimaging and Neuropsychologic Signatures in Children With Vertically Acquired HIV

BACKGROUND: Children with vertically acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exhibit persistent cognitive impairments, yet the corresponding neuroimaging signature of vertical infection remains unclear. METHODS: Fifty healthy control children and 51 vertically infected children were included in the study. The HIV-infected group consisted of survivors who had not received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at birth. The HIV-infected group averaged 11.4 (2.5) years of age, with a median CD4 count of 683 cells/mm(3). Most (71%) of the HIV-infected children were on ART for a median of 34 months (range: 33–42) with HIV RNA