Study of the HIV-1 RNA Levels and CD4+ Cells Counts in HIV Infected Patients

Abstract

HIV infection is a global pandemic. There is an inverse relationship between CD4 counts and degree of immunosuppression. The present study aim to assess the use of viral load (HIV RNA) and CD4 cell counts in the monitoring of HIV progression and its correlation. This period of 20 months study was conducted on 300 seropositive patients attending ICTC in Department of Microbiology at the tertiary care hospital, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. CD4 counts were estimated at baseline (Pre ART) and after 6 months and 12 months. Viral load test had done at 6 and 12 months of Post ART. This study didn’t show any significant comparison between HIV RNA levels and CD4 cell counts after 6 months of ART treatment, but after 12 months there was significant negative linear correlation. 12 months of Post ART, TND number of patients increased from 152 patients to 215 patients. Patients who had VL>1000 copies/ml decreased from 27 patients to 10, only 1 patient showed static CD4 counts but achieved TND of viral load. We can conclude that combined use of CD4 and Viral load prognostic markers should prove useful in individual patient management and in the design and evaluation of therapeutic trials.