Blood IPC numbers, CD4⁺ T-cell numbers, and HIV RNA levels by clinical subgroup.

Each open circle represents a value for a different study subject. Horizontal bars indicate the median. The P values are based on the comparison of the group means. (A) The number of blood IPCs is increased in LTSs (P < .05 for all group comparisons versus LTS) and decreased in AIDS patients (P < .01 for all group comparisons versus AIDS). Progressors and healthy donors have comparable IPC numbers (P > .05). Most of the progressors had received antiretroviral therapy for several months. No substantial difference in IPC number was observed between subjects who were treated and those who were untreated; therefore, all subjects were considered together in each clinical group. (B) CD4⁺ T-cell numbers are comparable in healthy donors and LTSs (P > .05) and follow a stage-specific decrease from LTSs to progressors and AIDS (P < .05 for the comparison of LTS versus progressors and LTS versus AIDS). (C) HIV viral load is comparable in LTSs and progressors (P > .05) and increased in AIDS subjects as compared with the 2 other groups (P < .05 for each of these comparisons).