Alternatives to HIV-1 RNA concentration and CD4 count to predict mortality in HIV-1-infected children in resource-poor settings.
Cheaper, simpler alternatives to CD4 lymphocyte count and HIV-1 RNA detection for assessing the prognosis of HIV-1 infection are needed for resource-poor settings. However, little is known about the predictive value of alternative assays, in particular in children. We assessed the prognostic value of total lymphocyte count, immune complex-dissociated p24 antigen, white blood cell count, packed-cell volume (haematocrit), and serum albumin for mortality in 376 HIV-1-infected, mainly African-American or Hispanic children enrolled during March, 1988 to January, 1991. In a Cox proportional hazards model, including all assay-alternatives to CD4 and RNA, total lymphocyte count (p<0.0001) and serum albumin (p=0.0107) independently predicted mortality. Further assessment of these markers is warranted in resource-poor settings.
Mofenson
L M
LM
Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. lm65d@nih.gov
Harris
D R
DR
Moye
J
J
Bethel
J
J
Korelitz
J
J
Read
J S
JS
Nugent
R
R
Meyer
W
W
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D015497:HIV-1; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D015415:Biomarkers; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral