A cross-sectional comparison of persons with syncytium- and non-syncytium-inducing human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract

The association between isolation of the syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and unfavorable clinical and immune status was evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Data on HIV phenotype were available for 341 of 878 persons entering clinical trials of antiretroviral therapies. Patients with SI virus were demographically similar to those with non-SI (NSI) virus but were more likely to have a diagnosis of AIDS and detectable circulating HIV p24 antigen. Patients with SI virus also had a lower CD4+ cell count and a higher serum level of beta 2-microglobulin. The association between phenotype and present status was explained statistically by CD4+ cell count. Phenotype, serum level of beta 2-microglobulin, and the presence of detectable p24 antigen were all independent predictors of present CD4+ cell count. The likelihood of finding SI virus increased with unfavorable virologic and immunologic parameters and varied with the amount of prior antiretroviral therapy.

• Authors: S A Bozzette, J A McCutchan, S A Spector, B Wright, D D Richman
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 168 Issue 6 Pg. 1374-9 (Dec 1993) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7902382 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• HIV Core Protein p24
• beta 2-Microglobulin

Topics

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (cytology)
• Cell Count
• Cohort Studies
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Giant Cells (microbiology)
• HIV (pathogenicity)
• HIV Core Protein p24 (analysis)
• HIV Infections (epidemiology, microbiology, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Phenotype
• Prognosis
• beta 2-Microglobulin (analysis)