Viral loads and CD4 counts of cases and controls in retrospective and prospective studies
| Syphilis | Controls | p Value* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POD, period of syphilis disease (see methods); BPVL, blood plasma viral load; SPVL, semen plasma viral load. | ||||
| *Statistical tests based on comparison of mean log measures, using GEE where there are multiple measurements per patient, and t test otherwise | ||||
| †Stored samples were available for analysis on 9 cases of syphilis and 9 controls. | ||||
| Retrospective study (numbers) | 63 | 104 | ||
| Median pre-POD viral load (range) | 5500 (<50–491 000) | 3100 (<50–938 300) | 0.16 | |
| Median POD viral load (range) | 16 700 (<50–3 764 500) | 1600 (<50–6 430 700) | 0.13 | |
| Median post-POD viral load (range) | 17 400 (<50–696 900) | 1400 (<50–730 300) | 0.10 | |
| Median pre-POD CD4 count (range) | 485 (100–1180) | 460 (64–1140) | 0.72 | |
| Median POD CD4 count (range) | 410 (90–1270) | 435 (24–1160) | 0.79 | |
| Median post-POD CD4 count (range) | 475 (120–1400) | 440 (20–1140) | 0.21 | |
| Prospective study (numbers) | 14 | 20 | ||
| Median BPVL on available stored samples before syphilis† | 70 359 (2335–184 084) | 35 578 (2947–151 652) | 0.51 | |
| Median BPVL at first study visit | 36 638 (16 998–287 030) | 20 656 (2519–80 127) | 0.01 | |
| Median BPVL at study visits 2, 3, and 4 | 88 786 (17 476–299 401) | 46 911 (4845–95 973) | 0.09 | |
| Median SPVL at first study visit | 21 060 (<1,000–147 531) | 3478 (<1000–24 171) | 0.00 | |
| Median SPVL at study visits 2, 3, and 4 | 39 412 (<1000–196 840) | 2203 (<1000–3294) | 0.00 | |