title: Impact of early HIV-1 RNA and T-lymphocyte dynamics during primary HIV-1 infection on the subsequent course of HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in the first year of HIV-1 infection. Sydney Primary HIV Infection Study Group.
abstract: Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ T-cell counts after HIV-1 seroconversion are important independent markers that predict the clinical course of HIV-1 infection. The prognostic significance of these parameters during primary HIV-1 infection, however, remains largely unknown. In a cohort of 53 male study subjects (age, 33 +/- 7 years), who consecutively presented with primary HIV-1 infection, we analyzed the relationship between early plasma HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, beta2-microglobulin, and p24-antigen levels determined in the first 3 months and subsequent plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ T-cell counts 6 to 12 months after onset of primary symptoms. Peak, nadir, and median HIV-1 RNA levels in the first 30 days were already significantly associated with HIV-1 RNA levels at 6 to 12 months (p = .02, p < .0001, and p = .01, respectively). Similarly, early nadir and median CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in the first 30 days showed a significant relationship with CD4+ T-cell counts at 6 to 12 months (p = .009 and p = .0008, respectively). Study subjects with an early decline of CD4+ counts to <500 cells/microl had an eightfold higher risk that CD4+ counts were <500 cells/microl at 1 year. Of all evaluated virologic parameters, only nadir HIV-1 RNA at 76 days predicted CD4+ counts at 6 to 12 months (p = .006). Early HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ counts are already associated with the time course of those parameters 6 to 12 months after onset of symptoms. Nadir viral load was the strongest predictor of HIV-1 RNA levels as well as of CD4+ counts at 6 to 12 months. An early decline of CD4+ T lymphocytes may be a useful clinical prognostic marker for rapid disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. gkaufmann@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaunders
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vizzard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral