Prevalence and prognostic significance of infection with TT virus in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

No clear association between human disease and TT virus (TTV) has been documented. A possible pathogenic role of TTV was investigated in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). TTV serum concentrations were estimated in 185 HIV-infected patients by dilution polymerase chain reaction. Of these, 149 (76%) were TTV-positive, compared with 18 (7%) of 252 Danish blood donors (P < .001; relative hazard [RH], 2.0). There was a correlation between lower CD4+ T cell counts and higher TTV titers (P< .01). In a Cox regression model, CD4+ T cell count (P< .001), age (P< .001), HIV viral load (P< .001), β2 microglobulin (P< .02), and high TTV viremia (P < .01; RH, 1.9) were independent predictors of survival. TTV is suspected to be an opportunistic pathogen with an independent influence on HIV progression.