Longitudinal analysis of lymphocyte ratios and HIV-1 intracellular DNA levels in children.

Saitoh, Akihiko; Powell, Christine A; Fenton, Terence; Douglas, Steven D; Starr, Stuart E; Fletcher, Courtney V; Spector, Stephen A · J Infect Dis · 2004

Where this comes from

Abstract

The associations between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) intracellular DNA and immunological markers were analyzed longitudinally for children with sustained, undetectable RNA levels while receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for >2 years. When DNA levels reached a plateau at week 104 of therapy, in contrast to findings for adults, there was no correlation between the CD4(+) : CD8(+) ratio and DNA levels (r=-0.02; P=.95), and naive CD4(+)CD45RA(+) lymphocytes predominated. These data suggest that the increased proportion of naive lymphocytes found in children are less susceptible to HIV-1 infection than are the memory lymphocytes that dominate immune reconstitution in adults.

Medical subject headings