AEGiS-15IAC: The impact of boosting therapy on cellular immune response and viral load.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

The impact of boosting therapy on cellular immune response and viral load.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10015)

Edeh LC, Ekeh JO
Public Interest Initiative, Badko, Kaduna, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Studying the cellular immune response and viral load in HIV-infected patients, when the boosting therapy with 2 protease inhibitors is introduced.

METHODS: Since 1996, 12 adult patients are still being treated in the Capital Clinic, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria from which 9 in the C3 stage of the disease. During treatment, after an initial excellent clinic, viral and immune evolution, these 9 patients presented a decline of the immune response, with fall in CD4 count and rebound plasma viraemia, when maintaining the initial therapy. Beginning with the year 2001 we started a boosting therapy, using an association of 2 protease inhibitors, namely saquinavir / nelfinavir and/or ritonavir. The observation upon the cellular immune response and viral load were established by analyzing the CD4 counts every 3 months and the plasma viraemia every 6 months.

RESULTS: In 7 of the 9 patients with boosting therapy with 2 (protease inhibitors we observed a rapid fall in plasma viraemia after the first 6 months of therapy and continuous ascending levels of CD4 counts. In 2 a patients the immune response and viral load did not change satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS: Using the association of 2 protease inhibitors in order to obtain a boosted therapeutical effect has re-established the immune response in 7 of 9 patients in the stage C3 of AIDS patients.

Keywords: AEGIS, Viral Load, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Saquinavir, Ritonavir, Nelfinavir, Anti-HIV Agents, HIV Protease Inhibitors, HIV, HIV Infections, Drug Therapy, Combination, Viremia, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Protease Inhibitors, Nigeria, Adult, Humans, therapy, drug therapy

040711
A10015