Neuroprotective effects of early antiretrovirals in vertical HIV infection.

We performed a retrospective study of a series of 58 of 189 vertically HIV-1 infected children who went on to develop progressive HIV-1-associated encephalopathy to assess real-life effects of early antiretroviral therapy on neurologic outcome. Our findings clearly indicate that antiretroviral therapy before the onset of neurologic symptoms delayed presentation of progressive HIV-1-associated encephalopathy, with an additional beneficial effect on survival.