Prognosis in HIV-1 infection predicted by the quantity of virus in plasma.
The relation between viremia and clinical outcome in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) has important implications for therapeutic research and clinical care. HIV-1 RNA in plasma was quantified with a branched-DNA signal amplification assay as a measure of viral load in a cohort of 180 seropositive men studied for more than 10 years. The risk of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and death in study subjects, including those with normal numbers of CD4+ T cells, was directly related to plasma viral load at study entry. Plasma viral load was a better predictor of progression to AIDS and death than was the number of CD4+ T cells.
Mellors
J W
JW
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh 15213, USA.
Rinaldo
C R
CR
Gupta
P
P
White
R M
RM
Todd
J A
JA
Kingsley
L A
LA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral