021 Assessment of thymic activity by positron emission tomography in HIV patients on HAART.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Worrell, S; Hardy, G; Hayes, P; Aspinal, R; Barnett, C; Dutton, J; Gotch, Fm; Gazzard, B
- Source
- HIV Medicine. Jul2000, Vol. 1 Issue 3, p172-172. 23p.
- Subject
- *HIV infections
*THERAPEUTICS
*THYMUS
- Language
- ISSN
- 1464-2662
Introduction: HAART can restore cellular immune responses; less is known about the effect of HAART on humoral immunity. AntiHIV antibodies may play a role in slowing virai replication and disease progression. We therefore investigated the changes in antiGag and anti-Env antibody leveis after HAART. Method: Eleven patients commencing HAART were compared with a control group of 11 patients receiving only nucleoside analogues or no therapy. HIV loads were measured by PCR. Indirect immunofiuorescence was performed using insect cells expressing recombinant Gag (pr55) and Env (gpl60); antibody levels were determined by endpoint dilution. Results: Anti-Gag and anti-Env titres were matched between groups at baseline. Nine patients receiving HAART achieved an undetectable HIV load during follow-up. There were eight deaths in the control group but none in the HAART group. Anti-Gag titres were low or absent and no significant change was observed in either group. Anti-Env titres were higher and decreased after HAART from a geometric mean titre of 1/413-1/116 (P < 0.01). No change in anti-Env titres was seen in the control group. Conclusion: Anti-Gag titres did not increase despite ah increased CD4 count following HAART. Anti-Env responses were better preserved and the titre declined following HAART as HIV load became undetectable. Low anti-Gag antibody titres have been associated with an increased risk of HIV disease progression. However, the markedly reduced incidence of death in the HAART group suggests that other factors are more important in determining clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]