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8th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]19 – 21 April 2002, University of York, York |
[AUTHOR(S):] C Burton1, M Nelson2, P Hay3, BG Gazzard2, F Gotch1 and N Imami1
Departments of 1 Immunology and 2 HIV/Genitourinary Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, and 3 Genitourinary Medicine, St George's Hospital, London
BHIVA Conf 2002 Apr 19-21;8:O22
OBJECTIVE: To measure the duration of HIV-1-specific T-cell responses, during interruption of antiretroviral therapy in chronic HIV-1 disease.
METHODS: 14 patients stopped antiretroviral therapy temporarily, due to adverse side effects caused by one or more components, adherence problems, drug resistance or drug toxicity. Responses to HIV-1 antigens were assessed by lymphocyte proliferation and ELIspot assays. Viral load, CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts were also monitored.
RESULTS: Eight patients had an undetectable viral load at the time of the interruption (group A), six had persistent HIV-1 viraemia (mean 13,964 copies/mL, range 158–62,294) preceding the cessation (group B). CD4 T-cell numbers did not differ significantly between the two groups over the study period. CD8 T-cell numbers were significantly different between the two groups 5 weeks after cessation of antiretroviral therapy (P=0.045) being higher in group A. Of the eight patients in group A, one generated a significant response to HIV-1 p24 at week 5 after cessation, and two showed responses to HIV-1 gp160 at week 5. In group B, one of the six patients demonstrated a response to both HIV-1 p24 and gp160 at week 10 after cessation. Responses were transient and disappeared 5 weeks after generation. There was a statistical difference in gp160-specific responses between the two groups at week 5 (P=0.044)
CONCLUSION: We have previously reported that during interruption of antiretroviral therapy, transient HIV-1-specific responses can be generated in patients with chronic HIV-1 infection, with low-level viral rebounds. Here we report that viral load preceding the interruption has little effect on the generation or duration of HIV-1-specific responses. All responses seen are transient and ablated by the re-emerging virus.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: C Burton
020419
O22
Copyright © 2002 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD