Disease progression and antiretroviral therapy in newly seropositive HIV subjects in a tertiary care hospital in North India
-
Published:2013-02-15
Issue:02
Volume:7
Page:110-115
-
ISSN:1972-2680
-
Container-title:The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
-
language:
-
Short-container-title:J Infect Dev Ctries
Author:
Chadha Sanjim,Bhalla Preena,Jha Arun Kumar,Gautam Hitender,Saini Sanjeev,Anuradha S.,Dewan Richa
Abstract
Introduction: In developing countries the standard methods used to monitor HIV disease progression and therapy response are clinical assessment, CD4+ T lymphocyte count measurement, and plasma viral load (PVL) quantification. These tests require expensive equipment and skilled technicians, so monitoring HIV in resource-limited countries remains challenging as few laboratories can offer these tests free of cost. Methodology: Newly diagnosed HIV seropositive subjects (n = 130) were categorized into three study groups: CD4 counts <200 cells/µl (group A, 43 subjects); 200-500 cells/µl (group B, 44 subjects); and >500 cells/µl (group C, 43 subjects). At recruitment, PVL estimation was performed for group A subjects only, who were then initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and were followed up after six months for evaluation of response to HAART by measuring the CD4 counts and PVL. Groups B and C were followed up after six months to monitor disease progression by measuring only CD4 counts. Results: Among group A subjects, a rise in the median CD4 counts after six months of HAART was observed. At baseline, PVL ranged from 2636 to >750,000 copies/ml with a median PVL at baseline of 165,000 copies/ml. At follow-up, 90% of the study subjects had undetectable levels of viraemia. Among group B and C subjects, a fall in the CD4 counts at follow-up was observed. Conclusions: CD4 count is a powerful tool to determine response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and monitor disease progression in HIV/AIDS. PVL is important to assess response to ART, especially in immunovirologic discordant responses.
Publisher
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subject
Virology,Infectious Diseases,General Medicine,Microbiology,Parasitology
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献