title: Predictors of long-term increase in CD4(+) cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving a protease inhibitor-containing antiretroviral regimen.
abstract: The temporal relationships between plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and evolution of CD4(+) cell counts was studied, using a 2-slope longitudinal mixed model, in 988 patients prospectively enrolled at the initiation of a protease inhibitor--containing regimen of antiretroviral therapy. The short-term slope (baseline through month 4) for mean change in CD4(+) cell count was +21.2 cells/mm(3)/month, and the long-term slope (month 4 through month 24) was +5.5 cells/mm(3)/month. Compared with results from patients without viral response, the long-term slope was 2.5 cells/mm(3)/month higher in patients who had plasma HIV RNA levels of <500 copies/mL at month 4 (P <.001). It was significantly lower after a rebound in plasma HIV RNA level to > or = 500 copies/mL (P <.0001), varied according to plasma HIV RNA level at the time of rebound, and was negative only when the plasma HIV RNA level at rebound was > or = 10,000 copies/mL. If CD4(+) cell counts can remain elevated despite virologic treatment failure, such a discrepant response may be transient in patients who have a high plasma HIV RNA level at the time of treatment failure.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le Moing
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thiébaut
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chêne
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leport
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cailleton
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michelet
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herson
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raffi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D012367:RNA, Viral