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Potential herpesvirus interaction during HIV type 1 primary infection
Evelyne T Lennette1, Michael P Busch, Frederick M Hecht
1Nectandra Institute, San Ramon, Costa Rica.
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|October 18, 2005
Summary
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) did not alter herpesvirus reactivation in HIV-1 patients. However, human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) was more common in HIV-1 individuals, with lower viral loads linked to HHV-8 positivity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Human herpesvirus (HHV) reactivation is common in individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.
- The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on HHV reactivation and seroprevalence in primary HIV-1 infection is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate herpesvirus reactivation and seroprevalence in HIV-1-infected individuals receiving HAART compared to those declining treatment.
- To examine the association between HIV-1 viral load, CD4/CD8 T cell counts, and HHV seropositivity.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 123 subjects with primary HIV-1 infection, with 96 on HAART and 27 untreated, plus 50 uninfected controls.
- Monitoring of HIV-1 viral load, CD4/CD8 T cell counts, and serologic responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), HHV-6, HHV-8, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Main Results:
- Herpesvirus reactivation frequencies did not differ between HAART recipients and non-recipients, irrespective of HIV-1 virologic response.
- Antibody seroprevalence for EBV, HHV-6, and CMV were similar between HIV-1-infected and uninfected groups.
- Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection was twice as prevalent in HIV-1-infected individuals, and lower baseline HIV-1 viremia was significantly associated with HHV-8 seropositivity.
Conclusions:
- HAART does not significantly alter herpesvirus reactivation patterns in primary HIV-1 infection.
- HHV-8 exhibits a higher prevalence in HIV-1-infected individuals, suggesting a potential link between HIV-1 viremia and HHV-8 acquisition or persistence.