Neuropsychological profile in a specific cohort of HIV patients infected postnatally : a cross-sectional study

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) are one of the most important complications of HIV infection reported in the current literature. Although HANDs have been closely studied in vertically infected HIV populations or in specific subgroups such as drug abusers or homosexuals, they have been completely understudied in hemophilia patients with HIV, infected through transfusions postnatally. For this reason, it seemed interesting to evaluate the presence of HAND in this specific population. The aim of this work is to present a study protocol aimed at assessing the neuropsychological profile of HIV+ hemophilia patients compared with that of HIV− hemophilia patients. This is the first European study to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HIV+ adult hemophiliacs prospectively.