IN-VITRO T-CELL FUNCTION, DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY SKIN TESTING,AND CD4(-CELL SUBSET PHENOTYPING INDEPENDENTLY PREDICT SURVIVAL-TIME IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS() T)

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients (n = 335 ) in the US Air Force HIV Natural History Program were followed for 3 years (mean) after skin testing, immunophenotyping of CD4(+) cell subs ets, and measurement of in vitro interleukin-2 production after stimul ation by phytohemagglutinin, alloantigens, tetanus toroid, and influen za A virus. The T cell functional assay predicted survival time (P < . 001) and time for progression to AIDS (P = .014). Skin testing for tet anus, mumps, and Candida antigen and the total number of positive test s (P < .001 for each) stratified patients for survival time. In a mult ivariable proportional hazards model, the T cell functional assay (P = .008), the absolute number of CD4(+) T cells (P = .001), the percenta ge of CD4(+)CD29(+) cells (P = .06), and the number of reactive skin t ests (P < .001) predicted survival time. Thus, cellular immune functio nal tests have significant predictive value for survival time in HIV-l -infected patients independent of CD4(+) cell count.