Association between HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 cell count among untreated HIV-infected individuals.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the significance of plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (or viral load alone) in predicting CD4 cell decline in untreated HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. Participants included all residents who ever had a viral load determination in the province and who had never taken antiretroviral drugs (N = 890). We analyzed a total of 2074 viral load measurements and 2332 CD4 cell counts. Linear mixed-effects models were used to predict CD4 cell decline over time.


RESULTS
Longitudinal viral load was strongly associated with CD4 cell decline over time; an average of 1 log(10) increase in viral load was associated with a 55-cell/mm(3) decrease in CD4 cell count.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the combined use of CD4 cell count and viral load as prognostic markers in HIV-infected individuals before the introduction of antiretroviral therapy.
Lima
Viviane D
VD
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St Paul's Hospital, 667-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6 Canada.
Fink
Valeria
V
Yip
Benita
B
Hogg
Robert S
RS
Harrigan
P Richard
PR
Montaner
Julio S G
JS
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral