Evidence for lower CD4+ T cell and higher viral load in asymptomatic HIV-1 infected individuals of India: implications for therapy initiation.
OBJECTIVE
We have earlier documented that the south Indian population had lower CD4 counts. The aim of this study was to investigate a previous suggestion on a new CD4+ T cell cut off and association with HIV-1 RNA levels for decision on anti retroviral therapy in India (south).


METHODS
We evaluated a new methodology i.e., artus real-time PCR and CD4+ T cell count by Guava EasyCD4 system. From 146 HIV infected individuals seen at a tertiary care centre, blood was collected for CD4+ T cell and HIV-1 RNA estimation.


RESULTS
The receiver operating characteristic curve cut off value for the CD4 counts to distinguish between CDC clinical categories A and B was 243 cells/microL, and to distinguish B and C was 153 cells/microL. The RNA level that differentiated CDC A and B was 327473 RNA copies/mL, while for CDC B and C was 688543 copies/mL. There was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.55, P + T cell counts in HIV infected individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority with CD4 counts of 201-350 cells/microL in our population had higher viral load than the treatment threshold suggested by the International AIDS society and the above two methodologies are useful in monitoring HIV infections.
Kannangai
R
R
Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore- 632 004, India. rajeshkannangai@hotmail.com
Kandathil
A J
AJ
Ebenezer
D L
DL
Nithyanandam
G
G
Samuel
P
P
Abraham
O C
OC
Sudarsanam
T D
TD
Pulimood
S A
SA
Sridharan
G
G
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral