Trends in post-infection CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in HIV-1-infected patients in France between 1997 and 2005.

Objective: We studied trends in initial post infection CD4 cell counts and viral load values in patients diagnosed at estimated time of primary infection between 1997 and 2005 in France.

Methods: We selected from the French Hospital Database on HIV infection white patients with documented dates of sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection who had a first CD4 cell count (n = 1441) or viral load assay (n = 1402) within 12 months after infection and before any antiretroviral therapy. Chronological trends in initial CD4 cell counts and viral load values were studied by using linear regression analysis.

Results: The initial CD4 cell count declined by an average of 5.76 cells per cubic millimeter per year [95% confidence interval (CI): -11.28 to -0.24 cells/mm3 per year] and compared with 1997 initial viral load increased significantly by a mean of 0.376 log10 copies per milliliter (95% CI: 0.044 to 0.707 log10 copies/mL) in 1999, 0.548 log10 copies per milliliter (95% CI: 0.288 to 0.808 log10 copies/mL) in 2000-2002, and 0.525 log10 copies per milliliter (95% CI: 0.267 to 0.7783 log10 copies/mL) in 2003-2005.

Conclusions: We think that lower CD4 cell counts and higher viral loads at a given time post infection suggest a more rapid progression of the disease and therefore an increased HIV pathogenicity.