CD4+ T cell count, HIV-1 viral loads and demographic variables of newly identified patients with HIV infection in Wuhan, China

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2013-10, Vol.85 (10), p.1687-1691
• Main Authors: Liu, Man-Qing, Tang, Li, Kong, Wen-Hua, Zhu, Ze-Rong, Peng, Jin-Song, Wang, Xia, Yao, Zhong-Zhao, Schilling, Robert, Zhou, Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4+ T cell counts; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; China - epidemiology; Demography; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gays & lesbians; heterosexual; HIV; HIV Antibodies - blood; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - isolation & purification; HIV-1 viral load; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; men who have sex with men; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Sexual Behavior; T cell receptors; Viral diseases; Viral Load; Virology; Wuhan; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23627

In China, the rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is increasing among men who have sex with men. The purpose of the present study was to describe HIV‐related biomarkers and selected demographic variables of persons with newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS, among men who have sex with men in particular, in Wuhan China. Demographic indicators, and CD4+ T cell counts and HIV‐1 viral load were collected from individuals newly identified as HIV‐1 antibody positive during 2011. Of 176 enrolled patients, 132 (75.0%) were men who have sex with men. This group was significantly younger and had higher CD4+ T cell counts than patients who were likely infected through heterosexual contact. Most men who have sex with men (56.6%) were discovered by initiative investigation. Among heterosexual patients CD4+ T cell counts and HIV‐1 viral load were significantly correlated; among the group of men who have sex with men, no such association was found. J Med. Virol. 85:1687–1691, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.