Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Mayers D

Berrey MM, Schacker T, Collier AC, Shea T, Brodie SJ, Mayers D, Coombs R, Krieger J, Chun TW, Fauci A, Self SG, Corey L. · Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. · J Infect Dis. · Pubmed #11319682 No free full text.

Abstract: Immunologic data supporting immediate antiretroviral therapy in primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are emerging; however, clinical benefit has not been demonstrated. The clinical and virologic course of 47 patients who were enrolled from September 1993 through June 1996 and who were not initially treated with potent therapy was compared with the course of 20 patients who immediately began therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and indinavir. Demographic and baseline laboratory data were comparable. During 78 weeks of follow-up, the early-treatment cohort showed a reduced frequency of opportunistic infections (5% vs. 21.3%; relative risk, 0.11; P=.02), less frequent progression to AIDS (13% vs. 0%), and significantly less frequent nonopportunistic mucocutaneous disorders and respiratory infections (P<.01). Plasma HIV-1 RNA levels were <50 copies/mL in all patients who continued therapy; however, after 9--12 months, HIV-1 remained detectable in latently infected CD4(+) T cells and in lymph node mononuclear cells. Combination antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV-1 infection demonstrated a decreased frequency of minor opportunistic infections, mucocutaneous disorders, and respiratory infections and reduced progression to AIDS.

Brown AE, Dolan MJ, Michael NL, Zhou S, Perfetto SP, Hawkes C, Robb M, Lane J, Mayers D, McNeil JG, Malone JD, Garner R, Birx DL, Anonymous00003. · Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC, USA. · Mil Med. · Pubmed #11469026 No free full text.

Abstract: Systems for the staging of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection were developed 15 years ago. Subsequently, assays for quantitating HIV-1 RNA and immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subsets have been developed and validated. The utility of these assays for improved staging in early disease was evaluated in 256 HIV-infected adults (52% minority) with CD4 counts > or = 400 cells/microL followed in U.S. military medical centers before the highly active anti-retroviral therapy era. HIV viral load (RNA) was quantitated; the frequencies of select CD4+ immunophenotypes were determined in 112 subjects. The results were analyzed in relation to three outcome measures: death, first acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining opportunistic infection, and CD4 count < or = 200 cells/microL. Serum RNA level and CD4 count were each found to be predictive of all three outcomes. In addition, increases in the T-cell subsets CD28-CD4+ and CD29+CD26-CD4+ were found to be independently predictive of more rapid progression. The classification of early-stage HIV patients is improved by the quantitation of both viral RNA and T-lymphocyte subsets.