Relationships between markers of vascular dysfunction and neurodevelopmental outcomes in perinatally HIV-infected youth.

Objective: To examine the relationship between markers of vascular dysfunction and neurodevelopmental status in pediatric HIV disease.

Design: A cross-sectional design within a prospective, 15-site cohort study conducted in the United States.

Methods: Nine vascular biomarkers were examined in 89 HIV-infected children: soluble P-selectin/sCD62P, fibrinogen, adiponectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL-2, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1/sCD106, sE-selectin/sCD62E, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1/sCD54. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth edition (WISC-IV) was administered yielding indices for verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed, and overall composite Full-Scale IQ score. Linear regression models were used to evaluate neurodevelopmental status (measured by WISC-IV scores) as a function of each biomarker while adjusting for demographics, disease severity, and receipt of HAART. Biomarker levels were evaluated in quartiles to evaluate trends in WISC-IV responses.

Results: Among the 89 HIV-infected children (median age = 12 years), 56% were girls, 71% black, 16% Hispanic, and 43% had yearly household income below US $20,000. Log (soluble P-selectin) was significantly correlated with all WISC-IV scores; adjusted slopes showed 6-11-point average decrease in scores for each one log unit increase in soluble P-selectin. Final linear regression models for log (fibrinogen) adjusted for sociodemographic and disease characteristics also indicated a negative correlation with all WISC-IV scores (13-30-point decrease for each one log unit increase in fibrinogen); these decreases were significant in the verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, and Full-Scale IQ scores.

Conclusion: Proinflammatory microvascular and immunologic mechanisms may be involved in neurodevelopmental impairment in children with perinatally acquired HIV disease.