Towards a new predictor of AIDS progression through the quantitation of HIV-1 DNA copies by PCR in HIV-infected individuals.

The proviral copy (PVC) number in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals was measured by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to determine over time the relation between the viral load and the evolution towards the disease in HIV-infected people: 67 anti-HIV-1 positive individuals (60 stage II/III, 7 stage IV) were studied. The mean PVC number per 1.5 x 10(5) PBMCs in stage II/III individuals (14.4 +/- 14.2) and in stage IV individuals (32.2 +/- 22.9) was significantly different (P < 0.02). PVC number was inversely correlated to the CD4 lymphocyte count (P < 0.01). In the logistic regression, the PVC number was a better marker of evolution towards the disease than the CD4 lymphocyte count. The mean proportion of HIV-infected PBMCs in stage IV individuals and in stage II/III individuals was 1/4606 and 1/10714, respectively.