Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation were reported to be associated with HIV disease progression in different settings. Here we report the association between eleven biomarkers and medium-term mortality in HIV-infected West Africa adults. METHODS: In Temprano ANRS 12136, ART-naïve HIV-infected adults with high CD4 counts were randomly assigned either to start ART immediately or defer ART until the WHO criteria were met. Participants who completed the 30-month trial follow-up were invited to participate in a post-trial phase (PTP). The PTP endpoint was all-cause death. We used multivariate Cox proportional models to analyze the association between baseline plasma biomarkers (IL-1ra, IL-6, sVCAM-1, sCD14, D-dimer, Fibrinogen, IP-10, sCD163, albumin, hsCRP, 16S rDNA) and all-cause death in the Temprano participants randomized to defer ART. RESULTS: 477 patients (median age 35, 78% women, median CD4 count: 379 cells/mm) were randomly assigned to defer starting ART until the WHO criteria were met. The participants were followed for 2646 person-years (median 5.8 years). In the follow-up, 89% of participants started ART and 30 died. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for the study center, sex, baseline CD4 count, isoniazid preventive therapy, plasma HIV-1 RNA, PBMC HIV-1 DNA and ART, the risk of death was significantly associated with baseline sVCAM-1 (≥ 1458 vs. < 1458: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.57, 95% CI 1.13-5.82) and sCD14 (≥ 2187 vs. < 2187: aHR 2.79, IQR 1.29-6.02) levels. CONCLUSION: In these sub-Saharan African adults with high CD4 counts, pre-ART plasma sVCAM-1 and sCD14 levels were independently associated with mortality.