title: Early markers of HIV infection and subclinical disease progression.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in US Air Force personnel between 1985 and 1989 was examined through a mandatory serological survey, and through annual examination of infected patients. CD4+ cell counts were determined by flow cytometry; beta 2 microglobulin and neopterin were measured by immunoassay. During this period 933 cases were found, of which 161 were documented seroconversions, giving an incidence rate of 15.6/100,000 person-years. For patients with > 400 CD4 cells microliters-1, the rate of initial occurrence of opportunistic infection was 1 and 4% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. HIV-infected persons with < 400 CD4+ cells microliters-1, in contrast, had rates of 21% at 1 year and 36% at 2 years. In a cross-sectional study, beta 2 microglobulin concentration was shown to increase in both the serum and spinal fluid of patients infected with HIV as their blood CD4 numbers declined. Neopterin levels in serum and spinal fluid showed a similar trend, with significantly lower neopterin concentrations in the group that had > 1000 CD4+ T cells compared to the 0-600 CD4+ cell group. Longitudinal studies included correlation of HIV p24 antigen with CD4 counts over a 1 year period. The p24 antigen-positive group had a 21% decline in CD4+ T cells, while the antigen-negative group had a 14% decline. Specific helper T-cell subsets were also examined over a 6 month period. A significant decline was seen in the CD4+/CD29+, CD4+/CD45R+, and overall CD4+ subsets which was not seen in AZT-treated patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lucey
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Melcher
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boswell
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008889:Military Personnel; D019798:Neopterin; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D015215:Zidovudine; D019798:Neopterin