Increased Viral Load and Suicidal Ideation in an HIV-Infected Patient
Authors: David W. Haas
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Letters1 January 1997Increased Viral Load and Suicidal Ideation in an HIV-Infected PatientDavid W. Haas, MD, Michael E. Morgan, RN, and Victoria L. Harris, EdDDavid W. Haas, MDVanderbilt University School of Medicine; Nashville, TN 37212, Michael E. Morgan, RNVanderbilt University School of Medicine; Nashville, TN 37212, and Victoria L. Harris, EdDVanderbilt University School of Medicine; Nashville, TN 37212Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-126-1-199701010-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The availability of new antiretroviral agents has heightened the expectation of therapeutic benefit among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multidrug regimens may reduce plasma HIV RNA levels, which provide valuable prognostic information, until they can no longer be detected [1, 2].In July 1995, a 37-year-old HIV-positive patient entered an industry-sponsored antiretroviral study. His CD4 cell count increased from 391 cells/mm3 to 613 cells/mm3 at study completion. In July 1996, his primary care provider did an assay for plasma HIV RNA. At this time, the patient was receiving stavudine, lamivudine, and indinavir. The primary ...References1. Gulick R, Mellors J, Havlir D, Eron J, Gonzalez C, McMahon D, et al. Potent and sustained antiviral activity on indinavir in combination with zidovudine and lamivudine [Abstract]. Third Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. IDSA, NIH, and CDC, 28 January-1 February 1996, Washington, DC. Google Scholar2. Mellors JW, Rinaldo CR, Gupta P, White RM, Todd JA, Kingsley LA. Prognosis in HIV-1 infection predicted by the quantity of virus in plasma. Science. 1996; 272:1167-70. Google Scholar3. Fischl MA, Richman DD, Grieco MH, Gottlieb MS, Volberding PA, Laskin OL, et al. The efficacy of azidothymidine (AZT) in the treatment of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317:185-91. Google Scholar4. Hamilton JD, Hartigan PM, Simberkoff MS, Day PL, Diamond GR, Dickinson GM, et al. A controlled trial of early versus late treatment with zidovudine in symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection. N Engl J Med. 1992; 326:437-43. Google Scholar5. Seligmann M, Warrell DA, Aboulker JP, Carbon C, Darbyshire JH, Dormont J, et al. Concorde: MRC/ANRS randomized double-blind controlled trial of immediate and deferred zidovudine in symptom-free HIV infection. Lancet. 1994; 343:871-81. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Nashville, TN 37212 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByReligion and Ritual 1 January 1997Volume 126, Issue 1Page: 86-87KeywordsAIDSAntiretroviral therapyAntiretroviralsBlood plasmaHIVMortalityMotivationPlasma cellsRNAViral load Issue Published: 1 January 1997 CopyrightCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...