2nd National Conference Human Retroviruses and Related Infections Washington, DC - January 29 - February 2, 1995

Natl Conf Hum Retrovir Relat Infect 1995 Jan 29-Feb 2;2: (abstract no. 15)

Farzadegan H, Lack C, Henrard D, Rinaldo C, Saah A, Detels R, Munoz A, Margolick J, Phair J

OBJECTIVE: We studied the virologic, immunologic and epidemiologic factors associated with rapid progression of gay seroconverters who developed AIDS in less than 3 years.

METHOD: 17 Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) participants who developed clinical AIDS less than 3 years after seroconversion (rapid progressors = RPs) were compared with 42 participants who had not developed AIDS in >6 years. Plasma HIV-1 RNA, p24 antigen. Quantitative serology, neoptrin, β-2 microglobulin, alpha interferon and IGs level were measured.

RESULTS: At the first seropositive visit, RPs more commonly had circulating p24 antigen, had higher titers of HIV RNA, and lower titers of anti-p24, and p17 than controls. IFN-α was detected, only among RPs. Later in the course of HIV infection, RPs had lower titers of all HIV-specific antibodies, higher HIV burden and increased generalized immune activation. RPs had a history of significantly greater pre-enrollment sexual activity, than did RPCs.

CONCLUSION: The data suggest that an insufficient immune response to HIV gag-gene products occurring very early in the course of HIV infection may contribute to rapid progression of HIV-mediated immune system destruction. The role that intensive high-risk sexual behavior prior to seroconversion may play in the development of rapid disease progression remains unclear.

Keywords: AIDS Vaccines, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Biological Markers, Disease Progression, HIV, HIV Antibodies, HIV Core Protein p24, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, HIV Envelope Protein gp41, HIV Infections, HIV Seronegativity, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Seroprevalence, Homosexuality, Homosexuality, Male, Male, beta 2-Microglobulin, immunology

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1995-01-29
15

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