Perceived stress and norepinephrine predict the effectiveness of response to protease inhibitors in HIV.
BACKGROUND
In vitro evidence has suggested that increasing levels of norepinephrine (NE) can accelerate HIV replication; however, the importance in a clinical setting has not been tested.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if perceived stress as well as the stress hormones NE and cortisol would predict the response to starting a new protease inhibitor (PI) prospectively.


METHODS
Perceived stress, urinary cortisol and norepinephrine, CD4 and viral load (VL) were measured in people with HIV before starting a new PI and six months later (an average of three months after starting the new PI) in order to determine CD4 and VL response to the PI.


RESULTS
Higher perceived stress significantly predicted lower effectiveness of the new PI in increasing CD4 and decreasing VL controlling for age, duration of new PI, baseline CD4/VL, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and gender/ethnic risk groups. Higher norepinephrine, but not cortisol, predicted worse VL response to PIs and, in fact, mediated the relationship between perceived stress and change in VL.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived stress and high norepinephrine levels are prospectively associated with a poorer response to starting a new PI. Assessing stress and norepinephrine levels in patients starting on antiretroviral medications might be clinically useful.
Ironson
Gail
G
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2070, USA. gironson@aol.com
Balbin
Elizabeth
E
Stieren
Emily
E
Detz
Kelly
K
Fletcher
Mary Ann
MA
Schneiderman
Neil
N
Kumar
Mahendra
M
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load
D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine