Clinical, biologic, and behavioral predictors of early immunologic and virologic response in HIV-infected patients initiating protease inhibitors

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2001 Aug 1;27(4):372-6. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200108010-00007.

Abstract

Predictors of virologic (plasma HIV RNA viral load [VL] < 500 copies/ml) and immunologic (rise in CD4+ cell count > 50 cells/mm3) response after 4 months of therapy (M4) were studied in 750 HIV-1-infected patients prospectively enrolled at the initiation of a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing regimen. A virologic response was observed in 80% of patients, and an immunologic response was observed in 64%. Sixty-two percent of patients self-reported full adherence to therapy at 1 month of therapy (M1) and M4. In multivariate analysis, a virologic response was more frequent in fully adherent patients (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0; p =.001). An immunologic response was associated with age < 36 years (OR =1.4; p =.03), baseline VL (OR = 1.5 per 1 log10 copies/ml higher; p <.01), decrease in VL at M1 (OR = 1.5 per 1 log10 copies/ml decrease; p <.01), baseline total lymphocyte count (OR = 1.7 per 50% lower; p <.001), and baseline CD4+ cell percentage > or = 20% (OR =1.9; p <.001) but not with adherence to therapy. Full adherence seems to be a major predictor of a virologic response to PI-containing triple therapy. An immunologic response may be possible despite incomplete adherence, at least early in therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cohort Studies
  • France
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • HIV-1
  • Humans
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Patient Compliance
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / blood

Substances

  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • RNA, Viral