TY - JOUR
T1 - Biological and virologic characteristics of primary HIV infection
AU - Schacker, Timothy W.
AU - Hughes, James P.
AU - Shea, Theresa
AU - Coombs, Robert W.
AU - Corey, Lawrence
PY - 1998/4/15
Y1 - 1998/4/15
N2 - Background: The clinical events surrounding acute HIV-1 infection have been well described, but little is known about whether the virologic course of acute HIV-1 infection influences the subsequent progression of disease. Objective: To define the virologic natural history of acute and very early HIV infection. Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Setting: University of Washington Research Clinic Participants: 74 adults enrolled soon after acquisition of HIV (mean, 69 days). Measurements: Plasma HIV-1 RNA levels; quantitative cell cultures; CD4 cell counts; and detailed clinical assessments done at study entry, biweekly for 1 month, monthly for 2 months, and quarterly thereafter. Results: In the first 30 days after acquisition of HIV, HIV-1 RNA levels varied greatly among participants (range, 27 200 to 1.6 x 106 copies per mL of plasma). Levels of HIV-1 RNA decreased by a mean of 6.5% per week for the first 120 days and then increased by a mean of 0.15% per week. CD4 cell counts decreased by a mean of 5.2 cells/mm3 per week for the first 160 days and by a mean of 1.9 cells/mm3 per week thereafter (P< 0.01). Disease progressed faster in participants who sought medical care for their acute seroconversion syndrome (P = 0.01) and those who had high plasma HIV-1 RNA levels 120 to 365 days after acquisition (P < 0.01). Peak levels in the first 120 days were not predictive of disease progression. Conclusions: The variability in viral RNA levels associated with acute HIV-1 infection is greater than previously appreciated. Within 120 days of acquisition, plasma HIV RNA levels rapidly decrease to an inflection point, after which they gradually increase. Virus-host interactions soon after acquisition seem to have a major influence on the long-term outcome of HIV-1 disease.
AB - Background: The clinical events surrounding acute HIV-1 infection have been well described, but little is known about whether the virologic course of acute HIV-1 infection influences the subsequent progression of disease. Objective: To define the virologic natural history of acute and very early HIV infection. Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Setting: University of Washington Research Clinic Participants: 74 adults enrolled soon after acquisition of HIV (mean, 69 days). Measurements: Plasma HIV-1 RNA levels; quantitative cell cultures; CD4 cell counts; and detailed clinical assessments done at study entry, biweekly for 1 month, monthly for 2 months, and quarterly thereafter. Results: In the first 30 days after acquisition of HIV, HIV-1 RNA levels varied greatly among participants (range, 27 200 to 1.6 x 106 copies per mL of plasma). Levels of HIV-1 RNA decreased by a mean of 6.5% per week for the first 120 days and then increased by a mean of 0.15% per week. CD4 cell counts decreased by a mean of 5.2 cells/mm3 per week for the first 160 days and by a mean of 1.9 cells/mm3 per week thereafter (P< 0.01). Disease progressed faster in participants who sought medical care for their acute seroconversion syndrome (P = 0.01) and those who had high plasma HIV-1 RNA levels 120 to 365 days after acquisition (P < 0.01). Peak levels in the first 120 days were not predictive of disease progression. Conclusions: The variability in viral RNA levels associated with acute HIV-1 infection is greater than previously appreciated. Within 120 days of acquisition, plasma HIV RNA levels rapidly decrease to an inflection point, after which they gradually increase. Virus-host interactions soon after acquisition seem to have a major influence on the long-term outcome of HIV-1 disease.
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U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-128-8-199804150-00001
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-128-8-199804150-00001
M3 - Article
C2 - 9537934
AN - SCOPUS:0032522379
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 128
SP - 613
EP - 620
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 8
ER -