Vergleich zwischen AIDS-Patienten mit zerebraler Toxoplasmose bzw. Pneumocystis-Pneumonie hinsichtlich des virologischen und immunologischen Ansprechens auf hochaktive antiretrovirale Therapie

Kastenbauer, Ulrich (2009): Vergleich zwischen AIDS-Patienten mit zerebraler Toxoplasmose bzw. Pneumocystis-Pneumonie hinsichtlich des virologischen und immunologischen Ansprechens auf hochaktive antiretrovirale Therapie. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: There is scarce data on immune reconstitution in antiretroviral naïve AIDS-patients with toxoplasmosis. The observation of several cases with reduced increase of CD4-cells upon start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) prompted us to investigate the topic in the ClinSurv cohort. Methods: 17 German HIV treatment centers contribute to ClinSurv, a multicentre observational cohort under the auspices of the Robert Koch Institute. We retrospectively selected all antiretroviral-naïve patients with toxoplasmosis (Toxo) and - as comparator group - with pneumocystosis (PCP) between January 1999 and December 2005. Results: A total of 257 patients were included in the analysis, 61 with Toxo and 196 with PCP. Demographic baseline data showed differences with regard to gender, transmission group, and baseline CD4+ counts (60.9 vs. 44.7/µl, p=0.022). After ART initiation the increase in CD4+ lymphocytes was lower in the Toxo versus the PCP-group in the first, second and fourth three-month-period (74.4 vs. 120.3/µl, p=0.006; 96.6 vs. 136.2/µl, p=0.021; 156.5 vs. 211.5/µl, p=0.013). Viral load (VL) was higher in the PCP-group at baseline (4.46 log10cop/ml vs. 5.00 log10cop/ml, p=0.008), while virological success of ART was equal. Conclusions: Our data show for the first time that the average CD4+ T-cell increase of patients with toxoplasmosis is slower as compared to PCP. Most clinicians would not be prepared to discontinue follow-up Toxo-therapy unless CD4+ counts of 200/µl are reached. Explanation for our finding might be the myelosuppressive side effect of pyrimethamine, possible interactions of toxoplasmosis therapy with ART, or an unknown direct biological influence of toxoplasmosis on immune restoration.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy, highly active; CD4 lymphocyte count; HIV; immune restoration; pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia; toxoplasmosis, cerebral
• Subjects: 600 Technology, Medicine; 600 Technology, Medicine > 610 Medical sciences and medicine
• Faculties: Faculty of Medicine
• Language: German
• Date of oral examination: 5. February 2009
• 1. Referee: Bogner, Johannes
• Signature of the printed copy: 0700/UMD 13371