Association between HIV-1 RNA level and CD4 cell count among untreated HIV-infected individuals

V.D. Lima, V. Fink, B. Yip, R.S. Hogg, P.R. Harrigan and J.S. Montaner

American Journal of Public Health, 2009, vol. 99, issue S1, S193-196

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: 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.

Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2008.137901_6

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.137901

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