Emergence of syncytium-inducing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants coincides with a transient increase in viral RNA level and is an independent predictor for progression to AIDS.
To study the dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 RNA level around the time of conversion from non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) to syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype and to study the predictive value of the SI phenotype for progression to AIDS, sequential samples from 123 HIV-infected homosexual men with documented intervals of seroconversion were evaluated. The NSI-to-SI phenotype conversion coincided with a 3-fold increase in median RNA level, which was not observed in matched controls in whom a viral phenotype conversion did not occur. This increase in virus was followed by a decrease to a higher steady-state RNA level than before the switch. After adjusting for RNA level and CD4 T cell count, SI phenotype was an independent marker for progression to AIDS. Hence, phenotype determination will contribute to optimal staging of HIV-infected persons in addition to virus load measurements and CD4 T cell count.
Division of Public Health and Environment, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ispijkerman@gggd.amsterdam.nl
I
I
Spijkerman
F
F
de Wolf
M
M
Langendam
H
H
Schuitemaker
R
R
Coutinho
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D018450:Disease Progression; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015726:Giant Cells; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral