title: Nadir CD4+ T cell count predicts response to subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2.
abstract: Community Program for Clinical Research on AIDS 059 was a multicenter study conducted among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals with CD4+ cell counts > or =300 cells/mm3 who were randomly assigned to receive antiretroviral therapy with or without intermittent subcutaneously administered recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). To identify factors associated with a response to IL-2, a secondary analysis was performed that included the subset of rIL-2 recipients who were able to complete all 3 initial treatment cycles. Predictors of a change in CD4+ cell count between baseline and 1 month after the start of treatment cycle 3 were examined in a multivariate model that included sex, race, body surface area, rIL-2 dose, HIV load, and both baseline and nadir CD4+ cell count. The combination of race and sex (P=.027) and the nadir CD4+ cell count (P=.005) were significant predictors of mean CD4+ cell count response. Baseline CD4+ cell count had no significant effect. The strong association between nadir CD4+ cell count and CD4+ cell count response suggests that immunologic losses resulting from HIV-mediated CD4+ cell depletion may be irreversible.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. nmarkow1@hfhs.org
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Judith D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bebchuk
authors.forename: Donald I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Abrams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins