Association between the rate of CD4(+) T cell decrease and the year of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 seroconversion among persons enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the early CD4(+) T cell response a mong human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroconverters in relation to their year of seroconversion. Study participants were enrolled in the S wiss HIV Cohort Study between 1985 and 1995 and had not received antiretrov iral treatment, The slope of the CD4(+) T cell count within 2 years after s eroconversion was significantly associated with the year of seroconversion, by sex and by use of injection drugs, when controlling for initial CD4(+) cell count, These results show that the loss of CD4(+) cells might be assoc iated with the year of seroconversion, suggesting a change in the pathogene sis of HIV across the years. If these results are confirmed, they could hav e important implications for the pathogenesis of and therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 infection.