High Soluble CD14 Levels at Primary HIV-1 Infection Predict More Rapid Disease Progression.

The soluble CD14 (sCD14) level was found associated with mortality during the chronic phase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Here we assessed its prognostic value in 138 patients with primary HIV infection. Higher sCD14 levels were associated with death, from myocardial infarction, but this was based on 3 deaths only. Among 68 untreated patients, those with higher sCD14 levels had more rapid spontaneous CD4 cell decline during the first 18 months following primary infection. This association persisted after adjustment for age, the CD4 cell count, and HIV viral load at diagnosis.