title: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in various stages of HIV infection. Relationship to disease progression.
abstract: In order to establish whether the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) may constitute a new marker of evolution towards AIDS in symptomless HIV infected subjects, we used PCR with three primer pairs (in the gag, pol and LTR regions) in 223 seropositive individuals at different stages of HIV infection. Among 176 symptomless seropositive individuals, 174 (98.8%) were positive with at least one primer pair. The subjects negative with at least one primer pair had a CD4 lymphocyte count significantly higher (p less than 0.01), and serum immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A, neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin concentrations significantly lower (p less than 0.01) than the individuals positive with the three primer pairs. Among 73 seropositive individuals followed over a two year period, 59 presented the same PCR pattern over this time period, while PCR showed different results in 14. Forty-seven AIDS patients were positive with the three primer pairs. The number of PCR negative with at least one primer pair was significantly fewer (p less than 0.001) in symptomatic individuals than in symptomless individuals. We conclude that the percentage of positive PCR results in HIV infected individuals is linked to the clinical stage of infection and to the disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lefrère
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salpetrier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demange
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wattel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rouger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vittecoq
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral