Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
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Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
Published on: September 26, 2011
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Correlation Between Radiological Features of Axillary Lymph Nodes with CD4 Count and Plasma Viral Load in Patients
Gulten Taskin1, Muzaffer Elmali1, Aydin Deveci2
1Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55270 Samsun, Turkey.
Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Elevated axillary lymph node density in HIV patients indicates immune suppression and high viral load. This finding suggests lymph node density may serve as a non-invasive imaging biomarker for HIV prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Axillary lymph node changes are common in HIV patients but poorly understood.
- Radiological features and clinical significance of these changes require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between axillary lymph node CT features and immune markers (CD4 count, viral load) in HIV-positive individuals.
- To explore the potential of axillary lymph node density as an imaging biomarker for HIV progression.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 113 HIV-positive patients undergoing contrast-enhanced chest CT.
- Measurement of lymph node parameters (diameter, cortical thickness, hilar width, density) on CT images.
- Correlation of imaging findings with CD4 counts and viral load, using statistical tests and ROC analysis.
Main Results:
- Lymph node size and shape did not significantly vary with CD4 count.
- Higher lymph node density was observed in patients with CD4 count < 200 cells/μL (p=0.024).
- Increased lymph node density, diameter, and cortical thickness were associated with viral load >100,000 copies/mL.
Conclusions:
- Elevated axillary lymph node density is linked to immune suppression and higher viral load in HIV.
- Axillary lymph node density shows potential as a non-invasive prognostic imaging biomarker for HIV infection.
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