Virological and immunological outcomes in HIV-1-infected Chinese patients treated with a combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir for 48 weeks.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of HIV-1-related infection diseases and the mortality of AIDS have dramatically decreased since highly active antiretroviral therapy began to be used clinically in China in 1999. And we initiated a second clinical trial using a combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir to observe the effects of the immunoreaction.


METHODS
Twenty patients with laboratory-confirmed chronic HIV-1 infection were recruited. Blood samples were collected initially and during the weeks after initiation of treatment. Within 48 hours of blood sampling, peripheral blood plasma and mononuclear cells were separated using routine methods. HIV-1 viral load was measured in thawed plasma samples. Within 48 hours of peripheral blood sampling, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets were enumerated.


RESULTS
The drug regimen was efficient in reducing HIV-1 plasma viral load and increasing total CD4(+) T cell counts. The percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets expressing CD38 and HLA-DR activation markers was positively correlated with plasma viral load and tended to normalize.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir was generally well tolerated and efficient at reducing HIV-1 RNA. Furthermore, the treatment improved the immunological function.
Li
Li
L
National Center for AIDS Prevention and Control, Beijing 100050, China.
Wei
Fei-li
FL
Mei
Shan
S
Feng
Xin
X
Yao
Jun
J
Jin
Xia
X
Cao
Yun-zhen
YZ
D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase / Q000097:blood; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D048588:Benzoxazines; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015497:HIV-1; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019469:Indinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019562:Viral Load
D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010078:Oxazines; D019469:Indinavir; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; C098320:efavirenz