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Kanmogne GD, Fonsah JY, Umlauf A, Moul J, Doh RF, Kengne AM, Tang B, Tagny CT, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Franklin D, Njamnshi DM, Kuate CT, Mbanya D, Njamnshi AK, Heaton RK. Effects of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and immune status on the speed of information processing and complex motor functions in adult Cameroonians. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14016. [PMID: 32820234 PMCID: PMC7441321 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70981-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits include impaired speed-of-information processing (SIP) and motor functions. There is lack of Cameroonian adult norms for assessing SIP or motor functions. This study of 683 Cameroonians (320 HIV+, 363 HIV-) establishes demographically-adjusted norms for six SIP [Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale (WAIS)-III Digit Symbol (WAIS-IIIDS) and Symbol Search (WAIS-IIISS), Stroop Color-Naming, Stroop Word-Reading, Trail-Making Test-A (TMT-A), Color Trails-1 (CTT1)], and two motor function [Grooved Pegboard-dominant (GP-DH) and non-dominant (GP-NDH) hands] tests. We assessed viral effects on SIP and motor functions. HIV-infected persons had significantly lower (worse) T scores on GP-DH, WAIS-IIIDS, Stroop Word-Reading, TMT-A; lower motor and SIP summary T scores. Significantly higher proportion of cases (20.7%) than controls (10.3%) had impaired SIP. Male cases had better T scores than female cases on GP-NDH, WAIS-IIIDS, WAIS-IIISS, TMT-A, CTT1; better SIP summary T scores. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was associated with significantly better T scores on GP-NDH, WAIS-IIIDS, Stroop Color-Naming; better motor and SIP summary T scores. Cases with higher CD4 had better T scores on WAIS-IIIDS, TMT-A, CTT1; better SIP summary T scores. Overall, we demonstrate that HIV infection in Cameroon is associated with deficits in SIP and motor functions; ART and higher CD4 are associated with better cognitive performance. We provide SIP and psychomotor functions normative standards, which will be useful for neurobehavioral studies in Cameroon of diseases affecting the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette D Kanmogne
- Vice-Chair for Resource Allocation and Faculty Development, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5800, USA.
| | - Julius Y Fonsah
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anya Umlauf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jacob Moul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Roland F Doh
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anne M Kengne
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Bin Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Claude T Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Donald Franklin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dora M Njamnshi
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Callixte T Kuate
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alfred K Njamnshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Robert K Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Acharya A, Tagny CT, Mbanya D, Fonsah JY, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Jihyun M, Njamnshi AK, Kanmogne GD. Variability in HIV-1 Integrase Gene and 3'-Polypurine Tract Sequences in Cameroon Clinical Isolates, and Implications for Integrase Inhibitors Efficacy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051553. [PMID: 32106437 PMCID: PMC7084836 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are now included in preferred first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected adults. Studies of Western clade-B HIV-1 show increased resistance to INSTIs following mutations in integrase and nef 3′polypurine tract (3′-PPT). With anticipated shifts in Africa (where 25.6-million HIV-infected people resides) to INSTIs-based ART, it is critical to monitor patients in African countries for resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) affecting INSTIs efficacy. We analyzed HIV-1 integrase and 3′-PPT sequences in 345 clinical samples from INSTIs-naïve HIV-infected Cameroonians for polymorphisms and RAMs that affect INSTIs. Phylogeny showed high genetic diversity, with the predominance of HIV-1 CRF02_AG. Major INSTIs RAMs T66A and N155K were found in two (0.6%) samples. Integrase polymorphic and accessory RAMs found included T97A, E157Q, A128T, M50I, S119R, L74M, L74I, S230N, and E138D (0.3′23.5% of samples). Ten (3.2%) samples had both I72V+L74M, L74M+T97A, or I72V+T97A mutations; thirty-one (9.8%) had 3′-PPT mutations. The low frequency of major INSTIs RAMs shows that INSTIs-based ART can be successfully used in Cameroon. Several samples had ≥1 INSTIs accessory RAMs known to reduce INSTIs efficacy; thus, INSTIs-based ART would require genetic surveillance. The 3′-PPT mutations could also affect INSTIs. For patients failing INSTIs-based ART with no INSTIs RAMs, monitoring 3′-PPT sequences could reveal treatment failure etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan Acharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Claude T. Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 1364 Yaoundé, Cameroon (D.M.); (J.Y.F.); (A.K.N.)
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Department of Haematology, P.O. Box 5739 Yaoundé, Cameroon; (E.N.); (L.K.)
| | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 1364 Yaoundé, Cameroon (D.M.); (J.Y.F.); (A.K.N.)
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Department of Haematology, P.O. Box 5739 Yaoundé, Cameroon; (E.N.); (L.K.)
| | - Julius Y. Fonsah
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 1364 Yaoundé, Cameroon (D.M.); (J.Y.F.); (A.K.N.)
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), P.O. Box 25625 Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Emilienne Nchindap
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Department of Haematology, P.O. Box 5739 Yaoundé, Cameroon; (E.N.); (L.K.)
| | - Léopoldine Kenmogne
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Department of Haematology, P.O. Box 5739 Yaoundé, Cameroon; (E.N.); (L.K.)
| | - Ma Jihyun
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Alfred K. Njamnshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 1364 Yaoundé, Cameroon (D.M.); (J.Y.F.); (A.K.N.)
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), P.O. Box 25625 Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Georgette D. Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +402-559-4084
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Kanmogne GD, Fonsah JY, Tang B, Doh RF, Kengne AM, Umlauf A, Tagny CT, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Franklin D, Njamnshi DM, Mbanya D, Njamnshi AK, Heaton RK. Effects of HIV on executive function and verbal fluency in Cameroon. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17794. [PMID: 30542105 PMCID: PMC6290794 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36193-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are frequently associated with impaired executive function and verbal fluency. Given limited knowledge concerning HAND in Sub-Saharan-Africa and lack of Cameroonian adult neuropsychological (NP) test norms, we administered four executive function [Halstead Category Test (HCT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Color Trails-II (CTT2), and Stroop Color-Word-Interference (SCWT)] and three verbal fluency (Category, Action, and Letter Fluency) tests to 742 adult Cameroonians (395 HIV-, 347 HIV+). We developed demographically-corrected NP test norms and examined the effects of HIV and related variables on subjects' executive function and verbal fluency. HIV+ subjects had significantly lower T-scores on CTT2 (P = 0.005), HCT (P = 0.032), WCST (P < 0.001); lower executive function composite (P = 0.002) and Action Fluency (P = 0.03) T-scores. ART, viremia, and CD4 counts did not affect T-scores. Compared to cases harboring other viral subtypes, subjects harboring HIV-1 CRF02_AG had marginally higher CTT2 T-scores, significantly higher SCWT (P = 0.015) and executive function (P = 0.018) T-scores. Thus, HIV-1 infection in Cameroon is associated with impaired executive function and some aspects of verbal fluency, and viral genotype influenced executive function. We report the first normative data for assessing executive function and verbal fluency in adult Cameroonians and provide regression-based formulas for computing demographically-adjusted T-scores. These norms will be useful for investigating HIV/AIDS and other diseases affecting cognitive functioning in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette D Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Julius Y Fonsah
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Bin Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Roland F Doh
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anne M Kengne
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anya Umlauf
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Claude T Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Donald Franklin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dora M Njamnshi
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alfred K Njamnshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Robert K Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Kanmogne GD, Qiu F, Ntone FE, Fonsah JY, Njamnshi DM, Kuate CT, Doh RF, Kengne AM, Tagny CT, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Mbanya D, Cherner M, Heaton RK, Njamnshi AK. Depressive symptoms in HIV-infected and seronegative control subjects in Cameroon: Effect of age, education and gender. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171956. [PMID: 28231258 PMCID: PMC5322951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a leading cause of HIV/AIDS disease burden; it worsens health outcomes and quality of life. Addressing this problem requires accurate quantification of the extra burden of depression to HIV/AIDS in a given population, and knowledge of the baseline depression prevalence in the general population. There has been no previous study of depression in the general Cameroonian population. The current study attempts to address that important need. We used the Beck Depression Inventory-II to assess the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in 270 HIV-infected and seronegative Cameroonians. Univariate analyses showed a trend toward higher depressive symptoms among cases, compared to controls (p = 0.055), and among older subjects (>40 years), compared to younger subjects (≤40 years) (p = 0.059). Analysis of depression severity showed that 33.73% of cases had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to 19.8% of controls (p<0.01). However, multivariable negative binomial regression analyses showed no effect of age, HIV status, CD4 levels, viral loads, ART, or opportunistic infections on the risk of depressive symptoms. Both univariate and multivariable regression analyses showed significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms among females compared to males; this was significant for both female controls and female cases. Female cases had significantly higher CD4 cell counts and lower viral loads, compared to males. Both univariate and multivariable regression analyses showed that lower education (≤10 years) was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. This study shows a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among seronegative controls and HIV-infected Cameroonians. Integrating care for mental disorders such as depression into primary health care and existing HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Cameroon may improve the wellbeing of the general population and could lower the HIV/AIDS burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette D. Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Fang Qiu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Félicien E. Ntone
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Julius Y. Fonsah
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Dora M. Njamnshi
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Callixte T. Kuate
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Roland F. Doh
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anne M. Kengne
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Claude T. Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Mariana Cherner
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Robert K. Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Alfred K. Njamnshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Fonsah JY, Njamnshi AK, Kouanfack C, Qiu F, Njamnshi DM, Tagny CT, Nchindap E, Kenmogne L, Mbanya D, Heaton R, Kanmogne GD. Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Yaoundé-Cameroon: Association with Opportunistic Infections, Depression, ART Regimen and Side Effects. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170893. [PMID: 28141867 PMCID: PMC5283684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Following global efforts to increase antiretroviral therapy (ART) access in Sub-Saharan Africa, ART coverage among HIV-infected Cameroonians increased from 0% in 2003 to 22% in 2014. However, the success of current HIV treatment programs depends not only on access to ART, but also on retention in care and good treatment adherence. This is necessary to achieve viral suppression, prevent virologic failure, and reduce viral transmission and HIV/AIDS-related deaths. Previous studies in Cameroon showed poor adherence, treatment interruption, and loss to follow-up among HIV+ subjects on ART, but the factors that influence ART adherence are not well known. In the current cross-sectional study, patient/self-reported questionnaires and pharmacy medication refill data were used to quantify ART adherence and determine the factors associated with increased risk of non-adherence among HIV-infected Cameroonians. We demonstrated that drug side-effects, low CD4 cell counts and higher viral loads are associated with increased risk of non-adherence, and compared to females, males were more likely to forego ART because of side effects (p<0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that subjects with opportunistic infections (on antibiotics) had 2.42-times higher odds of having been non-adherent (p<0.001). Multivariable analysis controlling for ART regimen, age, gender, and education showed that subjects with opportunistic infections had 3.1-times higher odds of having been non-adherent (p<0.0003), with significantly longer periods of non-adherence, compared to subjects without opportunistic infections (p = 0.02). We further showed that compared to younger subjects (≤40 years), older subjects (>40 years) were less likely to be non-adherent (p<0.01) and had shorter non-adherent periods (p<0.0001). The presence of depression symptoms correlated with non-adherence to ART during antibiotic treatment (r = 0.53, p = 0.04), and was associated with lower CD4 cell counts (p = 0.04) and longer non-adherent periods (p = 0.04). Change in ART regimen was significantly associated with increased likelihood of non-adherence and increased duration of the non-adherence period. Addressing these underlying risk factors could improve ART adherence, retention in care and treatment outcomes for HIV/AIDS patients in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Y. Fonsah
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alfred K. Njamnshi
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Charles Kouanfack
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Fang Qiu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Dora M. Njamnshi
- HIV-Day Care Service, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Claude T. Tagny
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Robert Heaton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Georgette D. Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Kanmogne GD, Kuate CT, Cysique LA, Fonsah JY, Eta S, Doh R, Njamnshi DM, Nchindap E, Franklin DR, Ellis RJ, McCutchan JA, Binam F, Mbanya D, Heaton RK, Njamnshi AK. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a pilot study in Cameroon. BMC Neurol 2010; 10:60. [PMID: 20626870 PMCID: PMC2912842 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-10-60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2010] [Accepted: 07/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The disease burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is highest in sub-Saharan Africa but there are few studies on the associated neurocognitive disorders in this region. The objectives of this study were to determine whether Western neuropsychological (NP) methods are appropriate for use in Cameroon, and to evaluate cognitive function in a sample of HIV-infected adults. METHODS We used a battery of 19 NP measures in a cross-sectional study with 44 HIV+ adults and 44 demographically matched HIV- controls, to explore the validity of these NP measures in Cameroon, and evaluate the effect of viral infection on seven cognitive ability domains. RESULTS In this pilot study, the global mean z-score on the NP battery showed worse overall cognition in the HIV+ individuals. Significantly lower performance was seen in the HIV+ sample on tests of executive function, speed of information processing, working memory, and psychomotor speed. HIV+ participants with AIDS performed worse than those with less advanced HIV disease. CONCLUSIONS Similar to findings in Western cohorts, our results in Cameroon suggest that HIV infection, particularly in advanced stages, is associated with worse performance on standardized, Western neurocognitive tests. The tests used here appear to be promising for studying NeuroAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette D Kanmogne
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Callixte T Kuate
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Lucette A Cysique
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Brain Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julius Y Fonsah
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sabine Eta
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Roland Doh
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Dora M Njamnshi
- HIV Day-Care Hospital, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Donald R Franklin
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Ronald J Ellis
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - John A McCutchan
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Fidele Binam
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Dora Mbanya
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- University Hospital Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Robert K Heaton
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Alfred K Njamnshi
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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