Association of CD209L tandem repeats polymorphism with susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection, disease progression, and treatment outcomes: a Moroccan cohort study.

In order to investigate the association between length variation of the CD209L neck region and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 susceptibility, disease progression, and treatment response outcomes, we genotyped 139 HIV-1-seropositive and 109 seronegative individuals. The heterozygous genotype 6/5 showed a significant increased risk of HIV-1 infection (OR 3.03, 95% CI 0.99-9.33, p 0.046). Moreover, after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-1-seropositive individuals carrying the 6/5, 7/5 and 7/7 genotypes and alleles 5, 6 and 7 showed good CD4(+) T-cell recovery. In addition, individuals with the 7/5, 6/6 and 7/7 genotypes showed a significant decrease in viral load during the treatment period as compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Interestingly, we found that alleles 4 and 6 were associated with protection against AIDS progression. D209L variation may influence susceptibility to HIV-1, response to treatment, and disease progression.

[Benefit of the rapid test determine HIV1/2 in the clinical diagnosis of HIV infection in Ibn Rochd hospital of Casablanca, Morocco]. / Apport du test rapide Determine HIV1/2 dans le diagnostic clinique de l'infection à VIH à l'hôpital Ibn Rochd de Casablanca, Maroc.

BACKGROUND: In Morocco, diagnosis of HIV infection remains late, which seriously compromises the timely management of HIV infection in the era of HAART therapies. Rapid test represents a good opportunity to improve the access to early screening of HIV. The objective of this study is to report the experience of the infectious diseases unit of the Ibn Rochd University hospital center of Casablanca, in the use of the rapid test in clinical screening of HIV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reports data relevant to the use of the rapid test Determine VIH-1/2, Abbott Diagnostics, since its introduction in the infectious diseases unit in April 2006 up to December 2009. The test was performed for patients from the infectious diseases unit and patients hospitalized in different units of the Ibn Rochd University hospital center, after their consent. Test was ordered systematically by clinicians in case of any suspected symptom related to HIV and immunodepression. Positive samples were confirmed by Western Blot test, at the National Reference Laboratory for HIV, within the Institut National d'Hygiène in Rabat. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2009, 1105 rapid tests were performed, among which 16.3% were positive. All results were provided to patients and none were lost to follow-up. The main reasons for the prescription of an HIV test were tuberculosis (26.3%) and chronic diarrhea (9.9%) for inpatients. For outpatients, the main symptoms were sexually transmissible infections (16.7%) and weight loss (15.7%). Results of the tests allowed us to adapt the treatment in case of suspicion of pneumocystosis (12 cases) and toxoplasmosis (seven cases). CONCLUSION: The introduction of the rapid test for HIV clinical screening in the hospital facilities improved considerably the access to diagnosis and consequently allowed a timely management of HIV infection.