Abstract
<p>This study is one of the only investigations to examine the complex inter-relationships between immune status, cognitive functioning, and disease progression in school-aged, perinatally infected, HIV+ children on HAART over time and is the first to conduct long-term follow-up assessments beyond one year after initiating HAART. Results demonstrated that poorer immune status, as measured by CD4% <25, at the first time point significantly predicted lower PIQ scores and PIQ subtest scores at the third time point, even after controlling for covariates. Results also showed that PIQ scores remained stable over the three time points. Further analyses revealed, however, that PIQ scores significantly declined over time as a function of CD4% category at the first time point. Finally, scores on the PIQ, VIQ, Coding, Picture Arrangement, Symbol Search, and Arithmetic at the first time point were all significant predictors of CDC C classification at follow-up. The clinical relevance of this study and recommendations for future research in this area are also discussed.</p>