Quantification of the variation due to laboratory and physiologic sources in CD4 lymphocyte counts of clinically stable HIV-infected individuals

Article Abstract:

The variation found between repeated CD4 measurements may largely be due to variation in the patient's personal habits. It may be more cost-effective and informative to repeat the white blood cell and lymphocyte portion of the blood test on the same sample if additional information is needed. Researchers analyzed two blood samples taken on each of six different occasions from 30 men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients also reported their exercise routine and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine in the hours before each test. Variation between the samples taken from each patient was 13.7%. The effects of laboratory technique explained 15% of this variation while changes in personal habits explained 85% of this variation. The white blood cell and lymphocyte components of the blood test accounted for the largest variation in the test (81%).

Measurement, Development and progression, CD4 lymphocytes

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Should we embrace new drugs with open arms? Experience from a community-based, open-arm, randomized clinical trial of combination antiretroviral therapy in advanced HIV disease

Article Abstract:

An open arm in a clinical trial may prolong the time it takes to recruit enough patients and also the time it takes to do the study. An open arm in a clinical trial means the patient can choose which treatment to take rather than being randomized to one or the other. Researchers allowed 582 patients with HIV infection to chose between zidovudine and ddI or zidovudine and ddC. They could also chose to be randomly assigned to either treatment. Seventy-six percent enrolled in the open arm and of these, 72% chose zidovudine and ddI. Using an open arm prolonged the recruitment phase by 88% and the study itself by 62%.

Health aspects, Methods, Clinical trials, Drug therapy, Zidovudine, Didanosine, Zalcitabine

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