BackgroundThe central nervous system is considered a sanctuary site for HIV-1 replication. Variables associated with HIV cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral load in the context of opportunistic CNS infections are poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate the relation between: (1) CSF HIV-1 viral load and CSF cytological and biochemical characteristics (leukocyte count, protein concentration, cryptococcal antigen titer); (2) CSF HIV-1 viral load and HIV-1 plasma viral load; and (3) CSF leukocyte count and the peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte count.MethodsOur approach was to use a prospective collection and analysis of pre-treatment, paired CSF and plasma samples from antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive patients with cryptococcal meningitis and assisted at the Francisco J Muñiz Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina (period: 2004 to 2006). We measured HIV CSF and plasma levels by polymerase chain reaction using the Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test version 1.5 (Roche). Data were processed with Statistix 7.0 software (linear regression analysis).ResultsSamples from 34 patients were analyzed. CSF leukocyte count showed statistically significant correlation with CSF HIV-1 viral load (r = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.13-0.63, p = 0.01). No correlation was found with the plasma viral load, CSF protein concentration and cryptococcal antigen titer. A positive correlation was found between peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte count and the CSF leukocyte count (r = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.125-0.674, p = 0.0123).ConclusionOur study suggests that CSF leukocyte count influences CSF HIV-1 viral load in patients with meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans.

中文翻译：

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影响隐球菌性脑膜炎中 HIV-1 脑脊液病毒载量的变量：线性回归分析

背景中枢神经系统被认为是 HIV-1 复制的避难所。在机会性 CNS 感染的背景下，与 HIV 脑脊液 (CSF) 病毒载量相关的变量知之甚少。我们的目的是评估：（1）CSF HIV-1 病毒载量与 CSF 细胞学和生化特征（白细胞计数、蛋白质浓度、隐球菌抗原滴度）之间的关系；(2) CSF HIV-1病毒载量和HIV-1血浆病毒载量；(3) CSF 白细胞计数和外周血 CD4+ T 淋巴细胞计数。阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯的 Francisco J Muñiz 医院（期间：2004 年至 2006 年）。我们使用 Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test 1.5 版 (Roche) 通过聚合酶链反应测量 HIV CSF 和血浆水平。数据用Statistix 7.0软件处理（线性回归分析）。结果分析了34名患者的样本。脑脊液白细胞计数与脑脊液 HIV-1 病毒载量具有统计学显着相关性（r = 0.4，95% CI = 0.13-0.63，p = 0.01）。与血浆病毒载量、脑脊液蛋白浓度和隐球菌抗原滴度没有相关性。外周血 CD4+ T 淋巴细胞计数与 CSF 白细胞计数呈正相关（r = 0.44，95% CI = 0.125-0.674，p = 0.0123）。结论我们的研究表明，CSF 白细胞计数影响 CSF HIV-1 病毒载量新型隐球菌引起的脑膜炎患者。