[Treatment of infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus in the Russian Federation].

Aim: To study efficacy and safety of highly active antiretrovirus treatment (HAAT) used in the Russian Federation for development of recommendations for HIV infection treatment.

Material And Methods: A total of 285 patients with chronic HIV infection and 42 patients with acute HIV infection participated in investigation of efficacy and safety of different HAAT schemes in 1997-2008. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed by percentage of the patients who had HIV RNA undetectable by the test system (< 400 copy/ml) after 24-48 treatment weeks, by a mean reduction of HIV RNA in blood plasma and an increase in the number of CD4-lymphocytes in 1 mcl of blood.

[Genetic characteristics of variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, causing an epidemic among substance abusers in Commonwealth of Independent States countries].

Gag/env nucleotide sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants detected in drug users in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus are analyzed. Two HIV-1 subtypes A and B circulate in this risk group. Genetic variability within one subtype is no higher than 3.

[The structure of the secondary diseases in HIV-infected patients in Russia].

In 95 patients with HIV infection (76 males and 19 females), observed in 1993-1997, the structure of secondary diseases was studied. During this period 58 patients (61.1%) died.

[Replicative properties of HIV-1 strains, resistant to 3'-azido-2'3'-dideoxythymidine].

The replicative activity of two strains of human immunodeficiency virus type I, 1974 and 1978, resistant to 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT), was investigated. Assessment of AZT sensitivity by the standard method showed the 50% effective dose (ED50) for strain 1974 to be 0.1 mumole and for strain 1978, 1 mumole.

[Tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection].

Within 1987-1995 the authors observed 16 cases of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients which accounted for 26.7% of AIDS patients treated by them. 14 cases were diagnosed intravitally, 2 postmortem.

[The diagnosis and clinical characteristics of cytomegalovirus infection in HIV-infected subjects].

Out of 180 HIV carriers active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was found in 30 patients, in 16 cases the infection manifested clinically. Most of the latter were patients with HIV infection IIIb or IIIc stage against persistent lowering of CD4-lymphocyte count under 100/mm3. Active CMV infection may be determined most significantly by the following criteria: high or moderate concentrations of CMV DNA in the blood, low concentrations of blood CMV DNA in the presence of long-term (at least 3 months) persistence of anti-CMV IgM and isolation of urinary CMV.

[The effect of immunoglobulin on hemostatic function in patients with HIV infection].

The influence of immunoglobulin for intravenous injection on the state of cell- and plasma-mediated elements of hemostasis in patients with HIV infection, treated with immunoglobulin (Ig) in connection with the presence of secondary diseases of bacterial nature and having thrombocytopenia, was analyzed. After two injections of 50.0 ml of Ig to patients with HIV infection and thrombocytopenia a rise in the count of blood platelets in 80% of cases; this rise reached its maximum on day 7-10 after the beginning of treatment and was retained 1-3 months later in most patients on the level of healthy persons.

[The thrombocytic link in hemostasis and the immunity system of patients with HIV infection].

To find out possible relationships between disturbances in the thrombocytic element of hemostasis and in the immune system (the count of lymphocytes CD4, the concentration of IgG, the content of circulating immune complexes), 18 adult patients with HIV infection were examined, and in 8 of them thrombocytopenia was diagnosed. 10 patients without thrombocytopenia formed the control group. The study revealed that with the development of thrombocytopenia in patients with HIV infection the aggregation capacity of their blood platelets decreased, which correlated (p < 0.

[The clinical manifestations of HIV infection during seroconversion].

21 seroconversion HIV-infected subjects have been examined. 16 of them presented with acute symptoms. The disease in the period of seroconversion manifested with fever, weakness, headache, pain in the throat, enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes, polymorphous eruption.

[Amplification of the activity of HIV-1 isolates purified from seropositive children after cryopreservation of persistently-infected cells].

HIV-1 strains MC-1974 and MC-1978 were isolated from children infected in hospital. Both children presented with symptoms of HIV infection by the moment the blood samples for virus isolation were collected. In vitro the isolated strains showed weak infective activity and caused no cytopathic effect in sensitive cells.

[Disorders in the plasma and cellular hemostatic components of patients with HIV infection].

Plasmic and platelet components of hemostasis were investigated in 100 HIV-infected subjects. Its degree depended on the infection stage and associated opportunistic infections. The key factor in pathogenesis of hemocoagulatory disorders is reduced count, abnormal function and morphology of platelets.

[The prognostic significance of the clinical manifestations of HIV infection during seroconversion].

For the period 1990-1993, HIV infection in seroconversion was diagnosed in Russia in 21 cases. Of them, 16 patients had acute symptoms. Follow-up results are available for 12 patients in seroconversion who had either typical or obscure symptoms (6 and 6 patients, respectively).