title: Association between HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 cell count among untreated HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St Paul's Hospital, 667-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6 Canada.
authors.forename: Viviane D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.forename: P Richard
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral