Association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigenemia with decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes and onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome during the early phase of HIV infection
Year: 1989
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigenemia was assessed in a longitudinal study of 52 homosexual men who developed serum antibody to HIV. Antibody seroconversion to HIV as defined by a positive HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) confirmed by Western (immuno-) blot was associated with three major patterns of HIV antigenemia. In the first pattern, a transient antigenemia was noted 6 (six subjects) and 12 (one subject) months prior to detection of antibody by HIV EIA and Western blot in 7 (13.5%) of the 52 men. Use of an EIA employing a recombinant envelope protein (ENV9) was able to detect antibody in four of these seven men at the time of this early antigenemia. In the second pattern, HIV p24 antigenemia occurred in 8 (15.4%) of the 52 subjects within the first 12 months after HIV antibody seroconversion. No p24 antigen was detected in the 37 (71.1%) remaining subjects. CD4+ cell numbers were lower in antigen-positive men before and after antibody seroconversion. Development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex was strongly associated with evidence of persistent p24 antigenemia during the early, postseroconversion period. HIV p24 antigenemia may be of value in determining appropriate cohorts for drug therapy trials for subjects with early-phase HIV infection.
Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Authors: C Rinaldo, L Kingsley, J Neumann, D Reed, P Gupta, D Lyter
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2169438181