Frequency of long-term nonprogressors in HIV-1 seroconverters From Rakai Uganda.
OBJECTIVE
Studies on long-term nonprogressors (LTNP) have been conducted in the USA and Europe. This study examined the frequency of LTNPs and HIV controllers among 637 HIV-1 seroconverters in rural Uganda.


METHODS
LTNPs were defined as being infected for more than 7 years with a CD4 T-cell count above 600 cells per microliter, and HIV controllers as having undetectable viral loads on 3 separate occasions without antiretroviral treatment. HIV-1 viral load and subtype distribution between LTNP and non-LTNP populations were determined.


RESULTS
Of the HIV seroconverters, 9.1% (58/637) were LTNPs and 1.4% (9/637) were HIV controllers. LTNPs had a significantly lower viral load at set point than non-LTNP participants (P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier joint probability of surviving to 7 years with a CD4 count >600 was 19.2%. Individuals who survived 7 years had a significantly higher frequency of HIV-1 subtype A (P < 0.05), but seroconverters infected with HIV-1A did not have a significantly higher probability of becoming an LTNP.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of LTNPs appears to be relatively high in Uganda and it may be important to take this into account when designing studies of viral pathogenesis and performing HIV vaccine trials in sub-Saharan Africa.
Laeyendecker
Oliver
O
Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Redd
Andrew D
AD
Lutalo
Tom
T
Gray
Ronald H
RH
Wawer
Maria
M
Ssempijja
Victor
V
Gamiel
Jordyn
J
Bwanika
John Baptist
JB
Makumbi
Fred
F
Nalugoda
Fred
F
Opendi
Pius
P
Kigozi
Godfrey
G
Ndyanabo
Anthony
A
Iga
Boaz
B
Kiwanuka
Noah
N
Sewankambo
Nelson
N
Reynolds
Steven J
SJ
Serwadda
David
D
Quinn
Thomas C
TC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult