Monitoring of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific CD4 + T cell frequency by cytokine flow cytometry as a possible indicator for discontinuation of HCMV secondary prophylaxis in HAART-treated AIDS patients

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology 2004-04, Vol.29 (4), p.297-307
• Main Authors: Lilleri, Daniele, Piccinini, Giampiero, Genini, Emilia, Comolli, Giuditta, Chiesa, Antonella, Tordato, Federica, Sotgiu, Giovanni, Parisi, Aldo, Baldanti, Fausto, Revello, Maria Grazia, Gerna, Giuseppe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AIDS; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - drug therapy; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - immunology; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - prevention & control; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - virology; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 + T cells; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Child; Cytokine flow cytometry; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - drug therapy; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - prevention & control; Cytomegalovirus Infections - virology; Female; Flow Cytometry - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HAART; HCMV disease; HCMV prophylaxis; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Predictive Value of Tests; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viremia; Virology
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/S1386-6532(03)00214-2

Objective: Absolute CD4 + T cell count and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific CD4 + T cell frequency (as determined by cytokine flow cytometry, CFC) were compared for their ability to predict HCMV disease and safe discontinuation of HCMV secondary prophylaxis. Study design: Three groups of AIDS patients with previous nadir CD4 + T cell count 150 cells/μl, but in 2 of them lacking HCMV-specific response HCMV retinitis relapsed. None of the seven group C patients discontinuing HCMV prophylaxis on the basis of CFC showed HCMV disease relapse. Conclusions: CFC may support absolute CD4 + T cell count for both guiding HCMV prophylaxis discontinuation and better monitoring HCMV infection in AIDS patients with no previous HCMV disease or having discontinued HCMV prophylaxis.