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A C Collier

Publications and source records attributed to A C Collier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in CSF and plasma HIV-1 RNA and cognition after starting potent antiretroviral therapy.

The authors assessed CSF and plasma HIV-1 RNA and neuropsychological test performance (composite neuropsychological test Z score [NPZ-4]) in 25 HIV-1-infected subjects 4 and 8 weeks after beginning potent antiretroviral therapy that included a protease inhibitor. In the 14 subjects who entered the study on no antiretroviral treatment, NPZ-4 improvement was associated with decline in CSF HIV-1 RNA at both visits (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02), and those treated with zidovudine or indinavir had greater improvement in NPZ-4 at both visits compared to those treated with other drugs (p = 0.003 and p = 0.01).

Adult↗

Central venous catheter-related bacteremia due to Tsukamurella species in the immunocompromised host: a case series and review of the literature.

We report 6 cases of bacteremia due to Tsukamurella species, all of which were in immunosuppressed patients with indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs). Fewer than 20 cases of serious illness due to these gram-positive bacilli have been reported in the medical literature; these cases have mostly been ascribed to the species Tsukamurella paurometabola. Tsukamurella species are frequently misidentified as Rhodococcus or Corynebacterium species. We used high-performance liquid chromatography to identify these organisms to the genus level and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA dot blots for species identification. Three of our isolates were identified as Tsukamurella pulmonis, 1 was identified as Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvans, and 1 was identified as a unique species. One isolate was not maintained long enough for species identification. All patients were successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy and CVC removal. Infection with this organism should be considered in the immunosuppressed patient with an indwelling CVC and gram-positive bacilli in the blood.

Actinomycetales↗

Differences in difficulty adjudicating clinical events in patients with advanced HIV disease.

Adjudication of clinical events is often used as a quality assurance method in clinical research. During the design of the Viral Activation Transfusion Study (a clinical trial in patients with advanced HIV disease), a set of study endpoints was defined (primarily AIDS-defining conditions), criteria for confirmation of each event type were developed, and an adjudication procedure was established. The adjudication process included 1) an initial review of documentation of each event by two independent reviewers, 2) the opportunity to request additional information, 3) a second review either of additional documentation or of cases in which there was disagreement on first review, and 4) the consultation of a third reviewer if there was still disagreement. Overall, of 288 reported endpoints, 30% required additional documentation or more than one review, and 16% were not confirmed at the end of the adjudication process. However, these percentages varied widely over different types of events. For example, of 30 reported nonophthalmalogic cytomegalovirus events, 37% required additional documentation and 40% were not confirmed. In contrast, every one of 17 reported Pneumocystis cariini pneumonias were confirmed with no requirement for additional documentation. The results can be used to help design endpoint documentation and adjudication procedures for other studies, thereby improving data quality and reducing costs.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Do HIV type 1 RNA levels provide additional prognostic value to CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts in patients with advanced HIV type 1 infection?

Our objective was to assess whether HIV-1 RNA levels provide additional prognostic information beyond CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts in the prediction of subsequent HIV-1 disease progression among patients with advanced HIV-1 disease. In a nested case-control study conducted in patients with baseline CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts < 300 cells/mm(3) and receiving nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 102 patients who progressed to an AIDS-defining event or death were matched within 10 CD4(+) T lymphocyte cells/mm(3) to patients who did not progress. The relationship between plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and HIV-1 disease progression was studied using conditional logistic regression analysis, which adjusts for the matching by baseline CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We observed a 0.10 log(10) copies/ml difference in baseline HIV-1 RNA levels between cases and their matched controls (p = 0.027). The relative risk for HIV-1 disease progression increased with increasing baseline HIV-1 RNA levels (odds ratio [OR] for a 3-fold higher HIV-1 RNA level, 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08--1.86), and remained important when also controlling for clinical status at baseline and CD4(+) T lymphocytes at 2 months (p = 0.038). Higher baseline HIV-1 RNA levels were associated with HIV-1 disease progression among patients with a baseline CD4(+) T lymphocyte count of 100 cells/mm(3) or greater (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.15--2.81), but not among patients with a baseline CD4(+) T lymphocyte count < 100 cells/mm(3) (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.73--1.63). We concluded that HIV-1 RNA levels predict subsequent HIV-1 disease progression independent of CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts. The magnitude and importance of the prognostic information contained in the HIV-1 RNA levels appear to depend on the CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts.

Adult↗

Effects of treatment intensification with hydroxyurea in HIV-infected patients with virologic suppression.

BACKGROUND: Virologic rebound can result from suboptimal antiviral potency in combination antiretroviral therapy. DESIGN: Multicenter, partially blinded, prospective, randomized study of 202 HIV-infected subjects to determine whether therapy intensification improves long-term rates of virologic suppression. METHODS: Subjects had plasma HIV RNA < 200 copies/ml, CD4 cell count of > 200 x 10(6) cells/l, and treatment with indinavir (IDV) + zidovudine (ZDV) + lamivudine (3TC) for at least 6 months before randomization to stay on this regimen or to receive IDV + didanosine (ddI) + stavudine (d4T) plus or minus hydroxyurea (HU) (600 mg twice daily). Treatment failure was defined as either confirmed rebound of HIV RNA level to > 200 copies/ml or a drug toxicity necessitating treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Treatment failure occurred more frequently in subjects randomized to the HU-containing arm (32.4%), than in those taking IDV + ddI + d4T (17.6%) or IDV + ZDV + 3TC (7.6%). The time to treatment failure was shorter for the HU-containing arm compared with the IDV + ZDV + 3TC (P < 0.0001) or IDV + ddI + d4T arms (P = 0.032). Dose-limiting toxicities rather than virologic rebound accounted for the differences between treatment failure among the study arms. Pancreatitis led to treatment discontinuation in 4% of subjects in treatment arms containing ddI + d4T. Three subjects with pancreatitis died, all randomized to the HU-containing arm. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to IDV + ddI + d4T + HU in patients treated with IDV + ZDV + 3TC was associated with a worse outcome, principally because of drug toxicity.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence and predictive value of intermittent viremia with combination hiv therapy.

CONTEXT: In HIV-infected patients having virologic suppression (plasma HIV RNA <50 copies/mL) with antiretroviral therapy, intermittent episodes of low-level viremia have been correlated with slower decay rates of latently infected cells and increased levels of viral evolution, but the clinical significance of these episodes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine if HIV-infected patients with intermittent viremia have a higher risk of virologic failure (confirmed HIV RNA >200 copies/mL). DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of subjects in well-characterized cohorts, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 343 trial of induction-maintenance therapy (August 1997 to November 1998) and the Merck 035 trial (ongoing since March 1995). PATIENTS: Two hundred forty-one ACTG 343 patients, of whom 101 received triple-drug therapy throughout the study, and a small group of 13 patients from Merck 035 having virologic suppression after 6 months of indinavir-zidovudine-lamivudine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association of intermittent viremia (plasma HIV RNA >50 copies/mL with a subsequent measure <50 copies/mL) with virologic failure (2 consecutive plasma HIV RNA measures >200 copies/mL) in both study groups; evidence of drug resistance in 7 patients from the small (n = 13) study group with long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Intermittent viremia occurred in 96 (40%) of the 241 ACTG 343 patients of whom 32 (13%) had 2 consecutive HIV RNA values >50 copies/mL during the median 84 weeks of observation (median duration of observation after first intermittent viremia episode was 46 weeks). Of the 101 individuals receiving triple-drug therapy throughout, 29% had intermittent viremia; the proportion of episodes occurring during the maintenance period was 64% for the entire cohort and 68% for the group not receiving triple-drug therapy throughout vs 55% for those who did (P =.25). Intermittent viremia did not predict virologic failure: 10 (10.4%) of 96 patients with and 20 (13.8%) of 145 patients without intermittent viremia had virologic failure (relative risk, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-1.72). In a Cox proportional hazards model, the risk for virologic failure was not significantly greater in the ACTG 343 patients with intermittent viremia (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.59-2.79). Median viral load in 10 ACTG 343 patients assessed between 24 and 60 weeks of therapy using an ultrasensitive 2.5-copies/mL detection level assay was 23 copies/mL in those with intermittent viremia vs <2.5 copies/mL in those without (P =.15). Intermittent viremia occurred in 6 of 13 patients from the small study group assessed after 76 to 260 weeks of therapy (using the 2.5-copies/mL detection level assay) and was associated with a higher steady state of viral replication (P =.03), but not virologic failure over 4.5 years of observation. Viral DNA sequences from 7 patients did not show evolution of drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent viremia occurred frequently and was associated with higher levels of replication (Merck 035), but was not associated with virologic failure in patients receiving initial combination therapy of indinavir-zidovudine-lamivudine (ACTG 343 and Merck 035). In this population, treatment changes may not be necessary to maintain long-term virologic suppression with low-level or intermittent viremia.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Highly active antiretroviral therapy decreases mortality and morbidity in patients with advanced HIV disease.

BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity related to AIDS have decreased among HIV-infected patients taking highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), but previous studies may have been confounded by other changes in treatment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefit of HAART in patients with advanced AIDS and anemia. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter cohort study. SETTING: The Viral Activation Transfusion Study (VATS), with enrollment from August 1995 through July 1998 and follow-up through June 1999. PATIENTS: 528 HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity or disease who were receiving a first red blood cell transfusion for anemia. MEASUREMENTS: In a person-year analysis of follow-up before and after initiation of HAART, Poisson regression was used to calculate crude rate ratios and rate ratios adjusted for CD4 count, HIV RNA level, calendar period, time on study, sex, ethnicity, and injection drug use. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had a median CD4(+) lymphocyte count of 0.015 x 10(9) cell/L, median plasma HIV RNA level of 4.8 log(10) copies/mL, and median hemoglobin concentration of 73 g/L. Use of HAART increased from 1% of active patients in January 1996 to 79% of active patients in January 1999. The crude death rate was 0.24 event/person-year among patients taking HAART and 0.88 event/person-year among those not taking HAART (rate ratio, 0.26; adjusted rate ratio, 0.38; P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Rates of non-CMV disease were 0.15 event/ person-year after HAART and 0.45 event/person-year before HAART (crude rate ratio, 0.34 [ P < 0.001]; adjusted rate ratio, 0.66 [ P < 0.05]). Rates of CMV disease were 0.10 event/person-year after HAART and 0.25 before HAART (crude rate ratio, 0.42 [ P < 0.01]; adjusted rate ratio, 1.01 [ P > 0.2]). Results were similar in patients with baseline CD4(+) lymphocyte counts less than 0.010 x 10(9) cells/L. CONCLUSIONS: The data support an independent reduction in mortality and opportunistic events attributable to HAART, even in patients with very advanced HIV disease. However, patients with CMV infection or disease may not have a reduction in new CMV events due to HAART.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Correlates of change in cytomegalovirus viremia in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection who require transfusion.

The Viral Activation Transfusion Study compared leukocyte-reduced to unfiltered red blood cell transfusions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-coinfected patients. Relationships between serially measured plasma CMV load and clinical and laboratory outcomes over a median of 12 months were examined in 511 subjects. At baseline, subjects had a median of 15 CD4(+) cells/mm(3), 25% had CMV disease, and 21.5% were viremic. No relationship was found between changes in CMV viremia and changes in HIV RNA. Increased CMV viremia was associated with a concomitant fall in Karnofsky score. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) led to a decrease in CMV viremia after a 90-day delay. After adjustment for HIV load and CD4(+) cell count, CMV viremia remained associated with an increased risk of CMV disease (relative hazard, 5.78). In late-stage HIV-infected patients, CMV viremia was associated with lower functional status and increased risk of CMV disease. HAART suppressed CMV viremia only after a delay of several months.

Adult↗

Treatment of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection with potent antiretroviral therapy reduces frequency of rapid progression to AIDS.

Immunologic data supporting immediate antiretroviral therapy in primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are emerging; however, clinical benefit has not been demonstrated. The clinical and virologic course of 47 patients who were enrolled from September 1993 through June 1996 and who were not initially treated with potent therapy was compared with the course of 20 patients who immediately began therapy with zidovudine, lamivudine, and indinavir. Demographic and baseline laboratory data were comparable. During 78 weeks of follow-up, the early-treatment cohort showed a reduced frequency of opportunistic infections (5% vs. 21.3%; relative risk, 0.11; P=.02), less frequent progression to AIDS (13% vs. 0%), and significantly less frequent nonopportunistic mucocutaneous disorders and respiratory infections (P<.01). Plasma HIV-1 RNA levels were <50 copies/mL in all patients who continued therapy; however, after 9--12 months, HIV-1 remained detectable in latently infected CD4(+) T cells and in lymph node mononuclear cells. Combination antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV-1 infection demonstrated a decreased frequency of minor opportunistic infections, mucocutaneous disorders, and respiratory infections and reduced progression to AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Qualitative and quantitative PCR measures of cytomegalovirus in patients with advanced HIV infection who require transfusions.

The Viral Activation Transfusion Study (VATS) was a randomized trial that compared leukocyte-reduced transfusions with unfiltered red blood cell transfusions in HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody-positive patients with anemia who were undergoing their first blood transfusion. The relations of the baseline qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measures of plasma CMV viremia, HIV RNA, CD4(+) cell counts, and quality of life in these study subjects were examined. The 511 study subjects had a median CD4(+) cell count equal to 15 cells/mm3, and 110 (21.5%) had CMV viremia by qualitative assay. In multivariate models, frequency of positive qualitative CMV increased with decreasing CD4(+) cell counts (p =.04 trend), higher HIV RNA (p <.001), and a history of CMV disease (p <.001). Quantitative CMV PCR were performed on the 110 qualitative assay-positive study subjects. Median CMV viral load was 1780 copies/ml. In multivariate regression models, lower CD4(+) cell count (p =.03), and a history of CMV disease (p <.001) correlated with the level of CMV load. HIV RNA load and CMV load were not correlated. A lower Karnofsky score was associated with both the presence and quantity of CMV DNA.

Adult↗

Leukocyte-reduced red blood cell transfusions in patients with anemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection: the Viral Activation Transfusion Study: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Allogeneic blood transfusions have immunomodulatory effects and have been associated with activation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in vitro and of HIV in small pilot studies. Retrospective studies suggest that transfusions adversely affect the clinical course of HIV. Data in selected non-HIV-infected patients requiring blood transfusion have suggested clinical benefit with leukocyte-reduced red blood cells (RBCs). OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of leukoreduced and unmodified RBC transfusions on survival, complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and relevant laboratory markers in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 11 US academic medical centers from July 1995 through June 1999, with a median follow-up of 12 months (24 months in survivors). PATIENTS: A total of 531 persons infected with HIV and CMV, aged 14 years or older, who required transfusions for anemia; 259 received leukoreduced transfusions and 262 received unmodified transfusions (10 did not receive the planned transfusion). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival and change in plasma HIV RNA level 7 days after transfusion, compared by type of transfusion. RESULTS: At entry, the groups were similar in demographic, clinical, and relevant laboratory characteristics. A total of 3864 RBC units were transfused. Two hundred eighty-nine deaths occurred (151 with leukoreduced transfusion; 138 with unmodified transfusion); median survival was 13.0 and 20.5 months, respectively (relative hazard [RH], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.51; log-rank P =.12). Analyses adjusted for prognostic factors suggested possible worse survival with leukoreduction (RH, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06-1.72). There was no difference in time to new opportunistic event/death or frequency of transfusion reactions. No changes in plasma HIV RNA level were seen in either group at days 7, 14, 21, or 28, even in patients not taking antiretroviral drugs. There were no differences in trends between groups in CMV DNA, CD4 cell counts, activated (CD38% or human leukocyte antigen-DR) CD8 cell counts, or plasma cytokine levels. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of HIV, CMV, or cytokine activation following blood transfusion in patients with advanced HIV infection. Leukoreduction provided no clinical benefit in these patients. These data demonstrate the importance of conducting controlled studies of effects of leukoreduction in different patient populations, since smaller studies in other patient populations have suggested leukoreduction may be beneficial.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Alterations in T cell phenotype and human immunodeficiency virus type 1-specific cytotoxicity after potent antiretroviral therapy.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are an important defense against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 but ultimately fail to control infection. To determine whether more efficient sustained immunity is induced by suppressing replication, the evolution of T cell phenotypes and HIV-specific CD8+ lymphocytes was prospectively investigated in 41 patients initiating combination therapy. Suppression of viremia to <200 copies/mL was associated with increases in naive cells (CD45RA+62L+) and declines in activated T cells (CD95+ cell counts and CD38+ HLA-DR+). HIV-specific tetramer-staining CD8+ T cells were detected in 6 of 10 HLA-A*0201-positive persons, which declined in 5 with treatment. CTL precursor frequencies were markedly consistent before and after treatment. Eight (72%) of 11 recognized > or =1 immunodominant epitope, representing either a new or an increased CTL response after treatment. Thus, activated CD8+ T cells, including those recognizing immunodominant epitopes, decline with combination therapy. However, the overall level of antigen-specific cells that are capable of differentiating into effectors remains stable, and the recognition of new epitopes may occur.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Plasma population pharmacokinetics and penetration into cerebrospinal fluid of indinavir in combination with zidovudine and lamivudine in HIV-1-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate plasma population pharmacokinetics and penetration into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by indinavir (IDV) in HIV-infected individuals receiving IDV, zidovudine and lamivudine. METHODS: Plasma population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed on 805 IDV plasma values from 171 patients, using a non-linear mixed-effects modeling approach. CSF data from 19 patients were analyzed using an individual approach. RESULTS: Mean individual Bayesian estimates for oral clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (V) by the final model that incorporated interoccasion variability were 0.75 l/h per kg [coefficient of variation (CV) 54.8%] and 1.74 l/kg (CV 82.7%), respectively. Mean model-predicted plasma IDV level at 8 h, maximal level, area under the plasma level-time curve up to 8 h and plasma half-life were 0.42 micromol/l (CV 57.5%), 9.51 micromol/l (CV 47.3%), 29.56 micromol/l x h (CV 46.9%) and 1.50 h (CV 20.9%), respectively. The mean IDV CSF level was 0.11 micromol/l (CV 49.7%) and the mean CSF:plasma concentration ratio was 0.017. CONCLUSIONS: Population estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters of IDV and its CSF penetration were in excellent agreement with previously reported data from individual analyses. Intraindividual interoccasion variability of IDV pharmacokinetics was estimated to be of similar order of magnitude to its interindividual variability, which may affect response to long-term antiretroviral therapy involving IDV. CSF levels of IDV exceeded its in vitro 95% inhibitory concentration of HIV replication. Given that CSF is virtually free of protein, viral suppression in the central nervous system should be achievable with an IDV-containing regimen.

Adult↗

Determinants of antimicrobial prophylaxis use and treatment for wasting among patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease in the United States, 1995-1998.

Despite US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendations for antimicrobial prophylaxis for patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, the proportion of patients who receive prophylaxis is not known. We measured the prevalence of antimicrobial prophylaxis use, and treatment for HIV wasting at baseline among 531 patients with advanced HIV disease enrolled in a multicenter randomized trial of red blood cell transfusion. Use of antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment for wasting in the 30 days before enrollment was ascertained in patients eligible for primary prophylaxis, secondary prophylaxis, or both, according to USPHS guidelines. There was high utilization of primary and secondary Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis, variability in primary Mycobacterium avium complex prophylaxis by center, and low use of primary cytomegalovirus prophylaxis. Treatment of wasting was more common in white than nonwhite patients and in patients with HIV disease who lived in the region west of the Mississippi River of the United States versus those whose lived in the eastern region.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Comparative studies of two-times-daily versus three-times-daily indinavir in combination with zidovudine and lamivudine.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of two-times-daily versus three-times-daily indinavir in combination with zidovudine and lamivudine. DESIGN: Two multicenter, open-label, randomized 24-week studies. METHODS: Adults HIV-1 infection, HIV-1 RNA greater than 10000 copies/ml, and no prior lamivudine or protease inhibitor therapy were eligible. In a pilot study (Study A), patients received indinavir at 800 mg every 8 h, 1000 mg every 12 h, or 1200 mg every 12 h. In a subsequent study (Study B), patients received indinavir at 800 mg every 8 h or 1200 mg every 12 h. All subjects received zidovudine (300 mg) and lamivudine (150 mg) every 12 h. An intent-to-treat analysis was used. RESULTS: In Study A, which enrolled 88 patients, neither HIV-1 RNA nor CD4 cell responses differed significantly between treatment groups at 24 weeks when corrected for multiple comparisons. Study B enrolled 433 patients, but was prematurely discontinued when interim analysis suggested greater efficacy of three-times-daily indinavir. Of the first 87 patients reaching week 24, HIV-1 RNA was less than 400 copies/ml in 91% receiving three-times-daily versus 64% receiving two-times-daily indinavir (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Three-times-daily indinavir appears more efficacious than two-times-daily dosing when administered with zidovudine and lamivudine. Two-times-daily indinavir dosing should only be considered in situations characterized by favorable pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions.

Adult↗

Baseline human immunodeficiency virus type 1 phenotype, genotype, and RNA response after switching from long-term hard-capsule saquinavir to indinavir or soft-gel-capsule saquinavir in AIDS clinical trials group protocol 333.

AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 333 was an open-label trial of a switch from saquinavir (SQV) hard capsules (SQVhc) to indinavir (IDV) or saquinavir soft-gel capsules (SQVsgc) after >48 weeks of prior treatment with SQVhc. Eighty-nine subjects received IDV or SQVsgc or continued to receive SQVhc and continued unchanged treatment with non-protease-inhibitor antivirals for 8 weeks. Subjects receiving SQVhc then switched treatment to IDV. Baseline drug susceptibility and protease gene sequencing were done; 12 codons related to IDV and SQV resistance were analyzed. After 112 weeks (median) of SQVhc, the fall in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RNA level from baseline was significantly greater with IDV and was inversely correlated with the number of protease substitutions. The number of substitutions also correlated with baseline CD4 cell count, HIV-1 RNA level, SQV experience, and drug susceptibility. Substitution at codon 10, which occurred only in isolates with >/=2 substitutions, was associated with blunted RNA response. IDV IC(50) correlated with HIV-1 RNA response after the switch to IDV but added little predictive power once the genotype was considered.

Adolescent↗

Dynamics of HIV-1 viral load rebound among patients with previous suppression of viral replication.

OBJECTIVE: To model the dynamics of HIV-1 rebound in patients receiving suboptimal therapy after suppression of plasma viremia to < 200 copies/ml by triple combination therapy. DESIGN: Mathematical modeling of data from 23 patients switched to indinavir maintenance therapy after viral replication was suppressed with a combination of indinavir, zidovudine and lamivudine. Modeling of HIV-1 rebound among 24 patients on zidovudine/lamivudine maintenance was also performed for comparison. METHODS: Evaluation of slopes of rebound and of their heterogeneity; calculation of the basic reproductive number (Ro, the number of newly infected cells arising from each productively infected cell); regression analyses for predictors of the slope of rebound. RESULTS: Rebound of plasma HIV RNA followed a sigmoid curve with an initial exponential phase. There was significant heterogeneity in the slopes of rebound for individual patients (P < 0.001). In the indinavir maintenance rebounds, the average initial slope was estimated to be 0.587/day (doubling time 1.2 days). The slopes of rebound in patients on zidovudine/lamivudine maintenance tended to be less steep on average (P = 0.025). Among patients taking indinavir maintenance, the average Ro for the initial rebound of viremia was 4.3; in multivariate regressions, the slope of rebound was steeper during early rebound and in patients with higher viral load at the start of triple therapy or a higher CD4 cell count when indinavir monotherapy was initiated. The slope was less steep in patients with a greater increase in the number of CD4 cells during triple therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of viral load increase among patients with viral rebound while receiving less than triple therapy are similar to those reported in patients interrupting therapy. Variability among patients may depend on viral fitness, target cell availability and extent of immune reconstitution.

Adult↗

Plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RNA load in men and women with advanced HIV-1 disease.

Several studies of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 have suggested that women have lower plasma HIV-1 RNA levels than men, even when controlling for CD4 T cell levels. A cross-sectional analysis was performed in 494 patients (21% of whom were women) who enrolled in a prospective study of anemic HIV-1-infected patients requiring transfusion. The median CD4 T cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels were 15 cells/microL and 4.83 log(10) copies/mL (67,350 copies/mL), respectively. In unadjusted analyses, women had slightly higher mean log HIV-1 RNA titers than men (0.19 log(10) higher copies/mL; 95% confidence interval, -0.05 to 0.44; P=.11). Adjustment for CD4 T cell count, race or ethnicity, injection drug use, and age yielded a smaller sex difference (0.13 log(10) copies/mL higher in women; P=.28). In this population of patients with very advanced HIV disease, there is no evidence that women have lower HIV-1 RNA levels than men.

Adult↗