Increased levels of cytokines are associated with the pathophysiology of HIV and they are most likkely to also contribute to the sleep disturbances associated with the HIV infection. Opp and colleagues detail their interesting new findings with HIV-gp120, a glycoprotein that is the binding site for the virus. Important gaps remain. There are no details about sleep in acute HIV infection. In fact, there is no objective assessment of sleepiness with the MSLT in acute HIV infection.
More research is needed on the effects of viral infections on sleep.
Data is beginning to emerge that sleep deprivation affects immunocompetence. How this is done is unknown. This could show that sleep is a beneficial adaptive response to preserve host-defense mechanisms.