Comparison of early CD4 T-cell count in HIV-1 seroconverters in Côte d'Ivoire and France: the ANRS PRIMO-CI and SEROCO cohorts.
OBJECTIVE
We compared CD4+ decline among untreated HIV-1-infected seroconverters living in Côte d'Ivoire (CI) and in France.


METHODS
HIV-1-infected adults were enrolled in the ANRS1220 PRIMO-CI (CI, 1997-2006) and ANRSCO2 SEROCO (France, 1988-1995) cohorts. CD4+ count and percentage declines were estimated from enrollment until 24 months of seroconversion by linear random-effect models adjusted for time since seroconversion, age, gender, cell-associated HIV DNA, HIV RNA, and country.


RESULTS
Overall 521 seroconverters (CI 148, 62% men; France 373, 77% men) were enrolled after a median of 7.6 months since seroconversion. Median follow-up duration was 12.7 months. Median age was 28 years. Median baseline CD4+ count was 472 and 560 cells per cubic millimeter, respectively. Median baseline HIV RNA was 4.4 and 4.0 log10 copies per milliliter and median HIV DNA was 3.0 and 2.8 log10 copies per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively. In adjusted models, CD4+ count and percentage at baseline were lower in CI than in France (P < 0.01), and the difference did not vary during follow-up (P = 0.55). Low HIV RNA and low HIV DNA at baseline were associated with higher CD4+ count at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
CD4+ count and percentage were lower in CI than in France. These differences were already observed during early infection and remained similar after adjustment.
Lewden
Charlotte
C
Inserm, U897, Bordeaux, France. charlotte.lewden@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
Thiébaut
Rodolphe
R
Boufassa
Faroudy
F
Coulibaly
Ali
A
Malateste
Karen
K
Seng
Rémonie
R
Toni
Thomas D'Aquin
TD
Inwoley
André
A
Rouzioux
Christine
C
Minga
Albert
A
Anglaret
Xavier
X
Meyer
Laurence
L
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult