Die akute HIV-1-Infektion in Zürich: 2002–2004

Abstract

Acute HIV-infection mostly presents with unspecifc symptoms. Thus the acute retroviral syndrome is often not readily recognized. Here we present an interim analysis of a prospective study from 62 patients with documented acute HIV infection acquired between January 2002-August 2004 in the greater Zurich area. 61.5% of patients were infected by homosexual contacts, mostly with HIV-1 subtype B, 34% acquired infection by heterosexual contacts, often with non-B-virus subtypes. Transmission occurred in all sexually active age groups (18-72 years). Clinical symptoms presented as follows: fever (77%), pharyngitis (56%), fatigue (52%), gastrointestinal symptoms (45%), rash (39%). On first physician contact, an ARS was only suspected in 27% of the cases. Patients primarily called on their family doctors (37.5%), went to see larger walk in clinics or emergency rooms (37.5%), and 16% were hospitalised. In 16% of patients other sexually transmitted diseases were diagnosed contemporaneously. Drug resistant virus (single class resistance) was transmitted in only one patient.

Complement Lysis Activity in Autologous Plasma Is Associated with Lower Viral Loads during the Acute Phase of HIV-1 Infection

“…To explore the impact of antibody-mediated complement virus lysis at different disease stages we measured patient plasma complement virolysis activity against autologous virus in a previously described cohort of 25 acutely and 31 chronically infected patients ( Figure 3 A and Table 1 ) [ 32 , 33 ]. Lysis activity against the autologous virus was measured in plasma samples derived at the time of virus isolation.…”

“…A control group of 11 healthy HIV-1 negative donors was recruited from volunteers affiliated with the University Hospital Zurich ( Table S1 ). Patient demographics and selection and isolation of autologous virus have been described [ 32 , 33 ]. Written informed consent was approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospital Zurich and was obtained from all individuals (both infected and uninfected) according to the guidelines of the University Hospital Zurich.…”

Early Antiretroviral Therapy During Primary HIV-1 Infection Results in a Transient Reduction of the Viral Setpoint upon Treatment Interruption

“…Patients presenting with acute or recent HIV-1 infection were enrolled in the Zurich Primary HIV Study (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCD00537966) [23], [24] between November 2002 and July 2007. This study is described in details elsewhere [22], [24].…”

Effect of Early Antiretroviral Therapy during Primary HIV-1 Infection on Cell-Associated HIV-1 Dna and Plasma HIV-1 Rna

“…Patients presenting with acute or recent HIV infection were enrolled in the Zurich Primary HIV Study (ZPHI) [30] between November 2002 and July 2007. The ZPHI study is an observational, open label, non-randomized, single-centre study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00537966).…”