title: Prevalence and prognostic significance of infection with TT virus in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: No clear association between human disease and TT virus (TTV) has been documented. A possible pathogenic role of TTV was investigated in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). TTV serum concentrations were estimated in 185 HIV-infected patients by dilution polymerase chain reaction. Of these, 149 (76%) were TTV-positive, compared with 18 (7%) of 252 Danish blood donors (P<. 001). Of the HIV-infected patients who were TTV-positive, 72 (51%) had high TTV viremia (>/=5 times the highest concentration observed among blood donors, i.e., >/=3.5x105 TTV/mL of serum). High TTV viremia was associated with decreased survival (P<.001; relative hazard [RH], 2.0). There was a correlation between lower CD4+ T cell counts and higher TTV titers (P<.01). In a Cox regression model, CD4+ T cell count (P<.001), age (P<.001), HIV viral load (P<.001), beta2 microglobulin (P<.02), and high TTV viremia (P<.01; RH, 1.9) were independent predictors of survival. TTV is suspected to be an opportunistic pathogen with an independent influence on HIV progression.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit 441, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eugen-Olsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: SŁrensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ullum
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gjedde
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krogsgaard
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors