Trends in post-infection CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in HIV-1-infected patients in France between 1997 and 2005.

Objective: We studied trends in initial post infection CD4 cell counts and viral load values in patients diagnosed at estimated time of primary infection between 1997 and 2005 in France.

Population And Methods: We selected from the French Hospital Database on HIV infection white patients with documented dates of sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection who had a first CD4 cell count (n = 1441) or viral load assay (n = 1402) within 12 months after infection and before any antiretroviral therapy. Chronological trends in initial CD4 cell counts and viral load values were studied by using linear regression analysis.