[A follow-up study of HIV long-term non-progress populations in Henan province]

To explore the related testing indicators variation of HIV long-term non-progress populations.

The long-term non-progress populations in some areas of Henan were recruited, and the study was carried out according to different CD4(+)T lymphocytes counts for two groups. The dynamic characteristics of immune status and viral load between LTNP-1group (CD4(+)T lymphocytes ≥ 500/µl, 42 cases) and LTNP-2 group(350/µl ≤ CD4(+)T lymphocytes < 500/µl, 49 cases) from July 2010 to August 2013 were observed. The characteristics of HIV elite controllers during the follow-up were also described.

LTNP were recruited, 56% (51 cases) were men, and 44% (40 cases) were women. The study population were aged from 38 to 65 years old. A total of 320 individuals were followed-up, 14 cases were lost, 2 deaths, and 16 cases had received antiretroviral therapy during four years. To analyze the annual changes of CD4(+)T lymphocytes and VL of the group from 2010 to 2013, LTNP-1 group CD4(+)T lymphocytes from 654.0(545.2-809.5) decreased to 494.0(341.0-574.7), and LTNP-2 group decreased from 493.0 (429.5-770.0) to 343.5(253.0-500.8), CD4(+)T lymphocytes decline of over times of two groups in longitudinal analysis (χ(2) = 50.32, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 31.03, P < 0.01). lg (VL) of LTNP-1 group were 3.52 (3.15-4.27), 3.71 (2.70-4.55), 3.86 (3.59-4.55), 3.96 (3.25-4.36), and lg (VL) of TNP-2 group were 4.35 (3.72-4.83), 4.35 (3.97-4.94), 4.71 (3.96-4.95), 5.04(4.78-5.26), respectively (P > 0.05). The same year inter-group comparison found CD4(+)T lymphocytes of LTNP-1 group were higher than LTNP-2 group (Z = 5.23, P < 0.01; Z = 3.06, P < 0.01; Z = 2.51, P < 0.05; Z = 2.47, P < 0.05). VL of LTNP-2 group increased from 4.35(3.97-4.94) to 5.04 (4.78-5.26) during 2011 to 2013, were higher than LTNP-1 group in the same year (Z = 2.28, P < 0.05; Z = 2.58, P < 0.05; Z = 2.76, P < 0.05). 65 cases HCV antibody were positive in 91 individuals, and the HCV antibody positive rate was 76% (32/42), 67% (33/49) between LTNP-1 group and LTNP-2 group. Six elite controllers maintained CD4(+)T lymphocytes ≥ 500/µl, VL<1 000 copies/ml during four years follow-up.

The long-term non-progress populations in Henan were overall healthy, and VL were relatively stable, there was a decreased trend of CD4 year by year, and HCV co-infection rate was high.