Hemophilia growth and development study: relationships between neuropsychological, neurological, and MRI findings at baseline.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on children's development by identifying neurological and environmental variables associated with neuropsychological measures of cognitive development in HIV-seronegative (HIV-) and HIV-seropositive (HIV+)children and adolescents with hemophilia.

METHODS

Participants (N = 298; 60% HIV+) were males ages 7-19 years enrolled in the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study (HGDS). Least squares modeling was used to determine whether there was a difference at baseline in mean neuropsychological test scores by HIV status, age, and neurological baseline findings, adjusting for selected environmental and medical history variables.

RESULTS

The participants were within age expectations for general intelligence. Variables associated with lowered neuropsychological performance included academic problems, coordination and/or gait abnormalities, parents' education, and previous head trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemophilia-related morbidity has a subtle adverse influence on cognitive performance. HIV infection was not associated with neuropsychological dysfunction in this group even when MRI abnormalities were present.