title: Clinical and immunologic response without decrease in virus load in patients with AIDS after 24 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: This study reports an analysis of clinical, virological, and immunologic outcomes in a cohort of 77 multidrug-experienced AIDS patients during 24 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Our results have shown a reduced risk of AIDS complications, prolonged survival, and immunologic benefit even in the absence of sustained virus suppression. The degree of immunodepression, the risk factors for HIV-1 infection, the use of 2 drugs instead of 3, and a change in protease inhibitor were independently correlated with virological failure. In the majority of studied patients, an increase in CD4+ T cells was observed after HAART. However, the increase was more pronounced in patients who showed a decrease in virus load than in those who did not. Moreover, we observed an absence of relapses among patients who permanently discontinued prophylaxis for Cytomegalovirus retinitis and atypical mycobacterial infections. Peripheral lipodystrophy developed in the majority of patients, regardless of treatment used and virological outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Viale dell'Università, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezzaroma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlesimo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinter
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Sora
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarotti
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cunsolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aiuti
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors