title: Issues in the design of trials of therapies for subjects with human immunodeficiency virus infection that use plasma RNA level as an outcome.
abstract: Longitudinal plasma RNA levels were examined in 326 persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who were participating in 4 clinical trials and 1 observational study. Variations in plasma RNA levels among individuals were analyzed, and correlations were made of replicate and longitudinal measurements, plasma RNA levels, CD4 cell counts, and plasma RNA levels at enrollment. Sample sizes were calculated for detection of differences between treatment groups in mean plasma RNA level at one time point, the average change over time, and the area under the curve. On the basis of study findings, study eligibility criteria should specify a minimum plasma RNA level at least as high as the expected size of the treatment effect, and all longitudinal data should be used when determining the effect of treatment on plasma RNA level. Duplicating plasma RNA levels resulted in a decrease in the required sample size of 14%-41%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raboud
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Schechter
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral