Association of syncytium-inducing phenotype of HIV-1 with CD4 cell count, viral load and sociodemographic characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether syncytium-inducing (SI)/non-SI (NSI) phenotype of HIV-1 is associated with CD4+ lymphocyte count, plasma HIV RNA level, clinical stage and sociodemographic characteristics in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of single centre cohort study data.


METHODS
SI/NSI phenotype was determined using a cocultivation assay using patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells and MT2 cells. Standard procedures were used for CD4+ cell counts and viral load measurements in plasma. Univariate and multivariate analyses of association of CD4+ cell counts, viral load, clinical stage, age, sex and mode of HIV transmission were performed.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, SI phenotype was significantly associated with lower CD4+ cell counts, higher HIV RNA plasma levels, symptomatic HIV disease, male sex and age 32-36 years (middle tercile). In multivariate analysis, only lower CD4+ cell counts were associated with SI phenotype (odds ratio per increase of 100 x 10(6)/l, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.78).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 SI phenotype was associated with lower CD4+ cell counts but not with higher plasma viral load, clinical stage or sociodemographic variables.
Furrer
H
H
AIDS Unit, Medical Policlinic, University of Berne, Switzerland.
Wendland
T
T
Minder
C
C
Christen
A
A
von Overbeck
J
J
Grunow
R
R
Pichler
W
W
Malinverni
R P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D019562:Viral Load