Inverse relationship between the titre of TT virus DNA and the CD4 cell count in patients infected with HIV

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and relative titre of TT virus (T TV) DNA, and to examine the relationship between the extent of TTV viraemia and the immune status among 144 patients with HIV infection; 178 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were also studied. Methods: TTV DNA was detected quantitatively by two distinct polymerase cha in reaction (PCR) methods [untranslated region (UTR) and N22]. UTR PCR dete cts all TTV genotypes, and N22 PCR can primarily detect four major TTV geno types (1 - 4). Results: Using UTR PCR and N22 PCR, respectively, TTV DNA was detected sign ificantly more frequently in HIV-infected patients than in controls (99 Ver sus 91%, P < 0.001; 56 versus 27%, P < 0.0001), and the relative titre (10( N)ml) was significantly higher in HIV-infected patients [4.5 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- SD) versus 3.1 +/- 0.9, Pc 0.0001; 2.6 +/- 1.5 versus 1.5 +/- 0.9, P < 0.0001]. Age, sex, co-infection with hepatitis B or C virus, and risk facto rs for HIV transmission did not appear to be significant factors associated with the titre of TTV viraemia. However, the titre of TTV DNA was signific antly higher in HIV-infected patients with AIDS (P < 0.0001), those with lo w CD4 T cell count (P < 0.0001), or those with high HIV viral loads (P = 0. 0047). Conclusion: TTV is highly prevalent and high-titred in HIV-infected patient s. The TTV viral load may reflect the degree of immune status of these immu nocompromised hosts. <(c)> 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.