Is there a better index of HIV disease status than just CD4 T cell levels?
Both immune deficiency (CD4 T cell level) and immune system activation (serum neopterin (NPT) or beta 2M levels) relate to prognosis in HIV infection but contribute separate information. An index combining the measurements of deficiency and activation was calculated to enable clinicians to use a single number that incorporated both measurements. In this work 784 homosexually active men were evaluated who were seropositive on entry into the MACS study at UCLA and were followed for 4 years. The best indices combining the markers were CD4/neopterin and CD4/beta 2M (e.g. CD4 level divided by beta 2M level). An example of the application of an index to calculation of the likelihood of AIDS occurrence (prognosis) is presented. TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. Several studies have indicated that serum neopterin and/or beta 2M as well as CD4 T cell changes can contribute to the evaluation of anti-retroviral therapy. With the widespread availability of CD4 T cell measurements and increasing a
