Studies inflammation and thinking skills in teens living with HIV in Eswatini
Compares inflammation markers and thinking speed in teens aged 13 to 19 with HIV.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The Eswatini Study on Neurocognitive Performance in Adolescents Living With HIV
Key facts
- Where
- Manzini, EswatiniSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 13 and 19 years old?
Source: NCT07165639, who can take part
Where in Eswatini
- Eswatini Nazarene Health Institution, Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation-Eswatini (Centers of Excellence in Mbabane and satellite clinic in Manzini in Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital)Manzini, EswatiniNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions
- Trial code
- NCT07165639
- Record updated
- 15 September 2025
- Original description
This study explores the link between inflammatory biomarkers and neurocognitive performance in adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Eswatini. Persistent HIV infection during adolescence has been associated with ongoing systemic inflammation and subsequent neurocognitive dysfunction. However, the exact nature of this relationship is not well-defined, especially in resource-limited settings where epidemiological and mechanistic data are scarce.Read full original descriptionShow less
Association Between Inflammation Biomarkers and Neurocognitive Performance Among Adolescents Living With HIV in Eswatini
This study explores the link between inflammatory biomarkers and neurocognitive performance in adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Eswatini. Persistent HIV infection during adolescence has been associated with ongoing systemic inflammation and subsequent neurocognitive dysfunction. However, the exact nature of this relationship is not well-defined, especially in resource-limited settings where epidemiological and mechanistic data are scarce.
objectives
* To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment among a sample of adolescents living with HIV, compared to HIV-negative adolescents in Eswatini * To assess the relationship between neurocognitive performance and current viral load status in adolescent living with HIV (ALHIV). * To examine the association between inflammation biomarkers and viral load suppression status in ALHIV. * To investigate whether adolescents with HIV experiencing neurocognitive decline exhibit a high inflammatory status.
A case-control design will be employed, involving 80 adolescents aged 13-19 years: 50 who are HIV-positive and 30 HIV-negative controls. Participants will be recruited from Baylor Manzini and Mbabane, as well as Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. Neurocognitive function will be evaluated using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, focusing on areas such as processing speed, motor coordination, attention, and visual scanning.
Blood samples will be collected to measure key inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), soluble CD163 (sCD163), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Sociodemographic and clinical data will be gathered through questionnaires and medical record reviews.
Primary outcomes will include neurocognitive performance scores, while secondary outcomes will involve biomarker levels and their correlation with cognitive function. Multivariate regression models will assess associations, adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, education, and HIV disease severity. Structural equation modeling will be used to explore potential mediators in the inflammation-cognition pathway.
Inclusion: Cases; Adolescents aged 13-19 years; HIV-positive; Undergoing antiretroviral therapy at Baylor Clinic; Providing consent or assent to participate; Controls; Adolescents aged 13-19 years; HIV-negative; Providing consent or assent to participate.
Exclusion: Exclusion Criteria; Recent (within 2 months) acute conditions: influenza, COVID-19, TB, acute gastroenteritis (as these conditions elevate CRP levels); Chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, asthma; Neurological disorders: epilepsy, cerebrovascular accident, neurodegenerative diseases; History of significant cranial trauma or perinatal complications; All the aforementioned conditions will be identified through self-reported data and medical records.