title: A simple relationship between viral load and survival time in HIV-1 infection.
abstract: Despite important recent insights into the short-term dynamics of HIV-1 infection, our understanding of the long-term pathogenesis of AIDS remains unclear. Using an approach that places rapid progressors, typical progressors, and nonprogressors on a single clinical spectrum of disease progression, we quantitate the previously reported relationship between viral load and survival time. We introduce the concept of viral constant, present evidence that this quantity is conserved across patients, and explore the immunopathological implications of this finding. We conclude with a quantitative approach for assessing the benefits of a given regime of antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arnaout
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goedert
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors