Long-term immunological response in HIV-1-infected subjects receiving potent antiretroviral therapy

Objective: To determine the long-term T-lymphocyte response to highly activ e antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to define predictors of the immunologi cal response. Design: Cohort study, including 135 HIV-1-infected subjects at a city gener al practice who commenced HAART between 1996 and 1998. Methods: Collection of plasma HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte data at 3-6 monthly time intervals over 2 years. Results: Seventy-three subjects ( 54%) achieved suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA to levels below 400 copies/ml during the observation period, 31 individuals (23%) had detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA below 10 000 copies/ml and 31 subjects (23%) had virological fail ures with viral loads above 10000 copies/ml. Median CD4+ T lymphocytes incr eased from 246 to 463 x 10(6) cells/l, showing a median rise of 20 X 10(6) cells/l per month in the first 3 months and 7 x 10(6) cells/l per month the reafter. The proportion of individuals who reached CD4+ cell counts above 5 00 x 10(6) cells/l increased from 8% at baseline to 54% at 2 years. Treatme nt-naitve individuals, subjects with a large reduction of HIV-1 RNA or a la rge early CD8+ increase had better early CD4+ responses. Long-term CD4+ T-c ell increases were inversely correlated with mean plasma HIV-1 RNA levels. Baseline CD4+ T-cell count was the most important determinant of reaching C D4+ cell counts above 500 x 10(6) cells/l. Nineteen per cent of subjects ha d no further CD4+ T-cell increases in the second year of therapy despite un detectable viral load. Conclusions: Immune reconstitution is a slow process, showing a large indiv idual variability. The virological response to HAART was the most important determinant of the immunological short- and long-term response, (C) 2000 L ippincott Williams & Wilkins.