AEGiS-12IAC: Specific T-cell responses in HIV-infected patients after highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART).

12th International AIDS Conference


Geneva, Switzerland - June 28-July 3, 1998

DonateNow
Print this article

Specific T-cell responses in HIV-infected patients after highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART).

Int Conf AIDS 1998 Jun 28-Jul 3; 12:523 (abstract no. 111/31142)

Leandersson AC, Bratt G, Fredriksson M, Hinkula J, Sandstrom E, Wahren B
Smittskydds Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: In patients with HIV-infection there is an early loss and reduction in function of the CD4+ cells. Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) gives a reduction in viral load and increasing CD4 values in many patients. Few studies have been performed to determine the function of these new CD4+ cells. The aim of this study was to investigate if specific T-cell responses are induced by HAART.

METHODS: Patients who received highly active antiretroviral treatment that had resulted in viral load levels under detection limit (< 500 copies/ml) for at least 3 months and increasing CD4 levels were included. Immune status was monitored by proliferation assays with HIV-specific antigens, mitogens and recall antigens. At least two assays were performed before treatment and one assay after HAART treatment. Viral load, CD4 levels and CCR5 status were also determined

RESULTS: All patients showed low or no HIV specific T-cell responses before treatment. After 4-9 months no or very low increases were seen even though viral load was reduced and CD4 levels increased. Results from longer (up to 16 months) effective treatment will be presented.

CONCLUSIONS: It is important to investigate the function of the increasing CD4+ cells seen after HAART. The very low responses seen so far suggests that a combination of HAART with specific HIV immunization might be needed in order to obtain both viral load reduction and improved immune responses to HIV.

Keywords: AEGIS, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV Infections, Viral Load, T-Lymphocytes, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Antigens, CD4, HIV Seropositivity, Drug Therapy, Combination, Human, therapy, immunology, drug therapy, ICA12KWDaegis,antiretroviraltherapy,highlyactive,hivinfections,viralload,t-lymphocytes,cd4-positivet-lymphocytes,antigens,cd4,hivseropositivity,drugtherapy,combination,human,therapy,immunology,drugtherapy,ica12
980628
11131142

Copyright © 1998 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.