Cerebrospinal fluid viral load in HIV-1-infected patients without antiretroviral treatment: a longitudinal study

• HIV-1 RNA and neopterin levels were observed longitudinally for 20 to 68 months (mean, 37.5 months) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum in 15 HIV-1-infected patients not receiving antiretroviral treatment. During the course of infection the HIV-1 RNA levels increased significantly in CSF, from a mean of 3.08 to 3.51 log10 copies RNA/ml (p < .01). A significant positive correlation was found between the CSF levels of HIV-I RNA and neopterin (rs = 0.54; p < .001), which increased from 13.6 to 19.6 nmol/L (p < .01). No significant changes in HIV-1 RNA or neopterin levels were found in serum. We suggest that the increase of CSF viral load with time in HIV-1 infection triggers an intrathecal immune activation reflected by increased CSF levels of neopterin. These results are in accordance with the theory that a chronic immune stimulation within the central nervous system (CNS) is involved in the pathogenesis of neurologic HIV-1 disease.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

CD4 Lymphocyte Count

Cerebrospinal Fluid/*virology

Cohort Studies

Female

Follow-Up Studies

HIV Infections/cerebrospinal fluid/immunology/*virology

HIV-1/genetics/immunology/*physiology

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

Male

Middle Aged

Neopterin/blood/cerebrospinal fluid

Polymerase Chain Reaction

RNA

Viral/blood/*cerebrospinal fluid

*Viral Load

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)