Pilot Study of Didanosine in Patients with HIV Dementia.

In a pilot open-labeled study 10 subjects with AIDS dementia complex (ADC) were treated with didanosine. Only half of the subjects were able to complete the trial as a result of side effects. Five subjects exhibited improved performance on neuropsychological testing, but the mean change in performance in this small group was not statistically significant. The study suggests that this drug may have some value in ADC patients unable to tolerate other therapies, but that further study is needed to establish this firmly.