Plasma HIV-1 RNA quantitation in HIV infected adult Zimbabweans.
OBJECTIVE
To determine HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma of HIV infected Zimbabwean adults and to correlate these with CD4+ cell counts.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Specialist Immunology Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
49 consecutive HIV infected patients.


METHODS
CD4+ cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels.


RESULTS
Based on the CDC HIV classification system five patients were in early stage infection, 15 in middle, 17 in late and 12 in advanced stage of infection. The median CD4+ cell count was 165/microL (Q1 = 4; Q3 = 866). The median HIV-1 RNA levels were 73,097 RNA copies/ml (Q1 = 753; Q3 = 750,000). Eighty percent of the patients had HIV-1 RNA levels > 10,000 copies/ml and 49% had > 100,000 RNA copies/ml. Median viral loads among the four categories of infection were found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). The correlation between CD4+ cell counts and HIV-1 RNA copies for the 49 patients was highly significant (r = -0.76; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
High treatment HIV-1 RNA levels were determined in the majority of patients. A highly significant correlation was obtained between plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ cell counts.
Chaka
W S
WS
University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Harare, Zimbabwe. immunolo@harare.iafrica.com
Sibanda
E N
EN
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019562:Viral Load; D015030:Zimbabwe
D012367:RNA, Viral