[The prognostic value of virology and immunology markers in Chinese HIV-1 infected people]

Abstract

Objective: To study the prognostic value of virology and immunology markers in Chinese HIV-1 infected people and their correlation.

Methods: We studied 190 HIV infected people/AIDS patients' samples from China. Plasma viral load, P24 antigen, virus culture, CD4 positive T lymphocyte (CD4) count and CD8 positive T lymphocyte(CD8) count were tested. Test groups were divided according to clinical staging diagnosis from physicians. The data were analyzed in aspects of their relations with clinical status and correlations among all the above markers.

Results: Plasma viral load, CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio showed significant difference between asymptomatic stage and symptomatic stages (P < 0.01), also between asymptomatic and AIDS stages(P < 0.001). Virus culture positive rate increased significantly from asymptomatic to symptomatic stage. No significant clinical change was observed associating with P24 antigen positive rate. CD8 count decreased slightly when AIDS occurred (P < 0.001). Close correlation was observed between plasma viral load, CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio.

Conclusion: Viral load, CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio are useful indicators to AIDS prognosis and virus culture can be a supplementary marker. p24 antigen detection seems no diagnostic value to disease progress. The significance of CD8 change will be further studied.