Neurology
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Multicenter Study
Head growth and neurodevelopment of infants born to HIV-1-infected drug-using women.
To describe neurodevelopment and head growth in HIV-1-infected and exposed uninfected infants with and without in utero exposure to opiates and cocaine. ⋯ HIV-1 infection and in utero opiate and cocaine exposure decrease birth head circumference and slow neurodevelopment at 4 months. At 24 months of age, however, only HIV-1 infection is associated with decreased neurodevelopment and head circumference. There may be some postnatal recovery from the effects of in utero hard drug exposure. Importantly, the detrimental effects of HIV-1 positivity and maternal hard drug use on neurodevelopment at 4 months are not additive, although they are additive for birth head circumference.