Nadir CD4 Related to Neurocognitive Impairment

Photo of Dr. Igor Grant

Researchers from the CHARTER study found that nadir CD4 count is strongly associated with neurocognitive impairment (NCI) even after adjusting for confounding variables that can influence both nadir CD4 and NCI. This association is attenuated with combination antiretroviral therapy (CART) use, but remains present when examining only those on CART with an undetectable viral load. These findings suggest that low nadir CD4 could represent a “legacy event” in HIV infection that establishes slow or non-reversible brain damage. Prevention of severe immunosuppression may lead to more favorable neurocognitive outcomes.

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To Cite

Ellis R, Badiee J, Letendre S, Vaida F, Franklin D, Heaton R, Clifford D, Collier A, Marra C, Gelman B, McArthur J, Morgello S, Simpson D, McCutchan JA, Grant I, for the CHARTER Group. (2010). Nadir CD4 is a predictor of HIV neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy: results from the CHARTER Study. XVIII International AIDS Conference, July 18-23, Vienna, Austria.

Related Abstract

Heaton R, Franklin D, Ellis R, Letendre S, LeBlanc S, Woods S, Clifford D,Rivera Mindt M, Taylor M, Marcotte T, Atkinson JH, Collier A, Marra C, Gelman B, McArthur J, Morgello S,Simpson D, McCutchan JA, Grant I for the CHARTER and HNRC Groups. (2010). Increased prevalence of HIV neurocognitive impairment (NCI) among non-AIDS cases in the post-CART versus pre-CART era. XVIII International AIDS Conference, July 18-23, Vienna, Austria.