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Early Levels of HIV DNA Predict Disease Progression
Independently of HIV RNA Levels and CD4+ T Cell Counts
The objective
of this work was to assess the role of HIV
reservoirs in the risk of HIV disease
progression,
by studying the relationship between HIV DNA level
in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and
progression toward AIDS.
HIV-1 DNA levels in
PBMCs were determined by quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 383 patients enrolled in
the SEROCO Cohort Study who had experienced
seroconversion and had been followed up for >8
years.
The researchers compared
the predictive values of HIV DNA level, HIV
RNA level, and CD4+
cell count.
Results
· Between
6 and 24 months after seroconversion, HIV DNA level
was a major predictor of progression to AIDS
independently of HIV RNA level and CD4+ T
cell count (adjusted relative risk [RR] for
a 1-log10 increase, 3.20.
· HIV
DNA level was also a major predictor of disease
progression during the first 6 months after seroconversion,
when HIV RNA level and CD4+ T cell
count were less predictive.
· Thus,
a combination of these 3 markers provides the
best estimate of the risk of disease progression
for each patient.
In
conclusion, the authors write, “Our results suggest that HIV DNA
level could be a useful additional marker in clinical practice and
could aid in helping to define the best time to initiate treatment
for each patient.:
06/13/05
Reference
Laboratoire
de Virologie and Service
d'Immunologie Clinique, EA 3620
Université René Descartes, Centre
Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU)
Necker-Enfants Malades, Service
de Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital
Paul Brousse Villejuif, and
Service de Médecine Interne,
CHU Saint-Louis, Paris, and
INSERM U 578, Service
d'Epidémiologie and Service de
Médecine Interne, CHU du
Kremlin-Bicêtre, Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
06/13/05
Reference
C Rouzioux and others (for the SEROCO Cohort
Study Group). Early Levels of
HIV-1 DNA in Peripheral
Blood Mononuclear Cells Are
Predictive of Disease Progression
Independently of HIV-1 RNA
Levels and CD4+ T Cell
Counts. The Journal of Infectious Diseases 192(1): 192:46-55.
July 1, 2005.
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