Changes in thymus volume in adult HIV-infected patients under HAART: correlation with the T-cell repopulation.
Clin Exp Immunol
; 130(1): 121-6, 2002 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12296862
ABSTRACT
An important thymus role has been suggested in T-cell repopulation after HAART in adult HIV-1 infected patients. Thymus volume increase after treatment has been described in HIV-1 infected children but not in adult patients. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of HAART on the thymic volume of adult HIV-1 infected patients and its relation with the T-cell repopulation. Twenty-one adult patients following 24 weeks under HAART were included in the study. All patients underwent a thoracic computed tomography (CT) evaluation for the measurement of thymic volumes at weeks 0, 12 and 24. Baseline thymus volume showed a significant correlation with the patient's age. Thymic volume significantly increased after 24 weeks of HAART. Besides, a significant correlation between changes in the thymus volume and changes in both total and naïve CD4+ cell counts was found. Only patients with increases > or =100 CD4+ cell counts after treatment significantly increased the thymic volume. These data show the first evidence of an early change in thymic volume of adult HIV-1 infected patients under HAART. This increase was related to the rise of both total and naïve CD4+ cell counts suggesting a functional role of thymic volume increase.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thymus Gland
/
HIV Infections
/
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
/
HIV-1
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CD4 Lymphocyte Count
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Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Exp Immunol
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain