Malaria parasitemia and CD4 T cell count, viral load, and adverse HIV outcomes among HIV-infected pregnant women in Tanzania

Abstract

We examined the cross-sectional relationships between malaria parasitemia and CD4 T cell count and viral load among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women. We then followed women to investigate whether or not baseline parasitemia predicted CD4 T cell counts or viral loads > 90 days post-baseline or predicted time to HIV disease stage 3 or 4 or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related death (ARD). Parasitemia level was nonlinearly associated with viral load at baseline and among measurements taken > 90 days post-baseline; women with low baseline parasitemia, versus none, had higher viral loads at both time points. Any baseline parasitemia predicted an increased rate of ARD among women with baseline CD4 T cell counts > or = 500 cells/microL (ratio rate [RR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-6.0; P test for heterogeneity = 0.05). Further study is warranted to determine whether or not parasitemia is especially detrimental to individuals with lower levels of immunosuppression or chronic low parasitemia.

Figure 1.

Adjusted mean log₁₀ viral load over time. Low versus no baseline parasitemia.