Henry K, Melroe H, Nelson R
HIV/AIDS Clinic and Programs, Health-Partners St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, USA.
Minn Med. 1995 Nov;78(11):26-34.
Clinical studies involving HIV therapeutics are becoming ever more challenging because of the changing epidemiology of HIV infection, the rapid evolution of standard clinical practice, and a more difficult economic environment for research. Recent studies relating to HIV pathogenesis have provided novel insights into the interactions between HIV, the immune system, and antiretroviral therapies. Current dogma now suggests that the interaction of HIV and the immune system is an incredibly dynamic process. HIV is an intimidating pathogen capable of replicating quickly and mutating very rapidly in response to antiretroviral therapy. An important question being studied by Minnesota-based investigators is how well plasma analysis reflects HIV-immune system interactions in the lymphoid tissue where most virus and CD4+ (T-helper) cells are located. Most of the HIV clinical studies in Minnesota are conducted under the auspices of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) or the AIDS Research Consortium of the Twin Cities (ARCTiC). Much expertise is available in Minnesota addressing a wide range of topics, from epidemiology, to basic virology, to prevention. To optimize patient access to clinical studies, we recommend that physicians discuss available clinical studies with an HIV investigator soon after first seeing a new HIV-infected patient.
由于HIV感染的流行病学变化、标准临床实践的快速演变以及更艰难的研究经济环境，涉及HIV治疗学的临床研究正变得越来越具有挑战性。最近有关HIV发病机制的研究为HIV、免疫系统和抗逆转录病毒疗法之间的相互作用提供了新的见解。目前的观点认为，HIV与免疫系统的相互作用是一个极其动态的过程。HIV是一种令人生畏的病原体，能够快速复制并在抗逆转录病毒疗法的作用下迅速变异。明尼苏达州的研究人员正在研究的一个重要问题是，血浆分析在多大程度上能够反映位于大多数病毒和CD4+（辅助性T）细胞所在的淋巴组织中的HIV与免疫系统的相互作用。明尼苏达州的大多数HIV临床研究是在艾滋病临床试验组（ACTG）或双城艾滋病研究联盟（ARCTiC）的支持下进行的。明尼苏达州在从流行病学、基础病毒学到预防等广泛主题方面拥有丰富的专业知识。为了优化患者参与临床研究的机会，我们建议医生在首次接诊新的HIV感染患者后尽快与HIV研究人员讨论现有的临床研究。
