Analysis of treatment for HIV-infected patients considering CD4 T cell count in STI

Abstract

Determining drug dosage for STI (Structured Treatment Interruption) according to the clinically healthy CD4 T cell count has recently been proposed due to its simple scheduling and effectiveness. In this paper, we investigated its effectiveness and validity from a mathematical biological point of view and analyzed the human immune system based on a mathematical model of a HIV-infected patient. Compared to the previous STI methods, we found that STI determined by the healthy CD4 T cell count not only reduces the entire treatment period but also the total drug dose administered. We also observed that this type of STI has a continued increase of the CTLp count, which is a vital force to the human self immune system. Therefore, the CTLp count continuously increases and approaches the value of the equilibrium point even after the treatment is terminated so that LTNP is induced. We also found that the base line of CD4 T cells selected to ensure the continued increase of the CTLp count will reduce the risk of opportunistic infection.