Viral Genetics (n = 100) (OPTION PERIOD)
In the years since the inception of CHARTER, antiretroviral drugs that target the HIV entry process have been introduced that are expected to elicit changes in the HIV env sequence when drug resistance develops. Data from several groups also indicate that env sequence features are correlated with neurocognitive impairment in vivo and biological phenotypes in vitro that may be relevant to infection in the CNS. During the Option Period, the Virology Core will focus on testing viral genetics as predictors of neurocognitive dysfunction and the reversibility of neurocognitive dysfunction to antiretroviral treatment and to establishing a database of baseline env sequences that will be of value for comparative studies as use of antivirals targeting viral entry increases.
Participants will be chosen having both Plasma and CSF viral load with > 400 copies/mL, or only a plasma viral load > 400 copies/mL. We expect approximately one third of the participants to be co-enrolled in Group N and another one third to be co-enrolled in Group V.
| Cross-sectional | 1st Longitudinal | |
| Age | 41.0 (9.1) | 41.8 (9.2) |
| Education | 12.9 (2.6) | 12.9 (2.6) |
| Gender (% male) |
82% |
83% |
| Caucasian | 36% | 35% |
| Hispanic | 9% | 9% |
| African American | 53% | 53% |
| Other | 2% | 3% |
| % AIDS | 49% | 53% |
| CD4 | 427 (251 - 616) | 416 (279 - 593) |
| Log 10 Plasma HIV RNA | 4.06 (3.06 - 4.65) | 3.46 (2.13 - 4.53) |
| Log10 CSF HIV RNA | 2.30 (1.70 - 3.27) | 1.70 (1.70 - 3.04) |
| NP Impairment (% impaired) | 42% | 33% |
