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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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.
| Long-term nonprogressor Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
