Differences in clinical course in zidovudine-treated asymptomatic HIV-infected men associated with T-cell function at intake

AIDS. 1991 Jan;5(1):43-7. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199101000-00006.

Abstract

Declining CD4+ T-cell numbers and anti-CD3-induced T-cell responsiveness are prognostic markers for progression of HIV infection. We investigated the effect of long-term (2-year) zidovudine treatment on these immunological markers in a group of nine asymptomatic p24-antigenaemic men, five of whom progressed to AIDS. A group of 10 untreated HIV-infected men, five of whom progressed to AIDS, was studied as a control. At intake, 1 year before the start of treatment, CD4+ T-cell numbers in the groups were not significantly different. However, at that time progressors already exhibited an extremely low anti-CD3-induced T-cell responsiveness compared with non-progressors. In all people T-cell responsiveness and the number of CD4+ T-cells had improved 6 months after the start of zidovudine treatment. However, CD4+ T-cell numbers were not persistently elevated, and restoration of T-cell responsiveness was of only short duration. Our results show that zidovudine treatment in the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection did not result in a sustained improvement in T-cell function. Furthermore, they suggest that differences in clinical course among zidovudine-treated asymptomatics may be caused by heterogeneity of this group with respect to T-cell functional capacity at the start of treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Count
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Zidovudine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Zidovudine