Is HIV disease progression influenced by CMV co-infection?
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether CMV seropositivity or CMV seroconversion accelerates HIV disease progression in a French cohort (SEROCO) of non-hemophiliac HIV-infected adult patients with known date of infection. METHODS: The date of HIV infection was the mid-point of a maximum two years interval between HIV-/HIV+ serology, or the date of a well documented HIV primary infection (n = 567). CMV infection (CMV+) was defined by the presence of IgG antibodies at first visit (ELISA) and CMV seroconversion (Sero-CMV) by the occurrence of CMV antibodies at a biannual visit among initially negative patients (n = 83). Firstly, CMV+ (n = 501) were compared to persistently CMV negative patients (CMV-) (n = 66). Secondly, Sero-CMV (n = 17) were compared to CMV-. End points were the occurrences of CDC group IV manifestations, an AIDS-defining illness or CD4+ count < 200/mm3. Cox model was used to quantify the relative risk (RR) before and after adjustement for age at HIV infection as a quantitative
