Long-term nonprogressor

Long-term nonprogressor is a term used in the field of HIV/AIDS research and treatment to describe individuals who are infected with HIV, but whose disease progression is significantly slower or halted compared to the typical progression. These individuals can maintain stable CD4 counts and low or undetectable viral loads without the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Characteristics

Long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) are a small subset of individuals infected with HIV. They are characterized by:

• Stable CD4 counts: CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the body's immune system. In most individuals with HIV, the number of CD4 cells gradually decreases over time. However, in LTNPs, these counts remain stable for many years.
• Low or undetectable viral loads: The viral load refers to the amount of HIV in the blood. LTNPs typically have very low or even undetectable viral loads without the use of ART.
• Absence of disease progression: Most importantly, LTNPs do not show the typical progression of HIV to AIDS that is seen in most individuals infected with the virus.

Mechanisms

The exact mechanisms that allow for the long-term nonprogression of HIV are not fully understood. However, several factors have been suggested to play a role:

• Genetic factors: Certain genetic traits, such as the presence of the CCR5-delta32 mutation, have been associated with slower disease progression.
• Immune response: Some studies suggest that LTNPs may have a more effective immune response to HIV, possibly due to differences in T cell function or the production of broadly neutralizing antibodies.
• Viral factors: It is also possible that some LTNPs may be infected with less virulent strains of HIV.

Clinical implications

Understanding the mechanisms that allow for long-term nonprogression could have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. If these mechanisms can be understood and replicated, it could potentially lead to new therapies or even a cure for HIV.

This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia