Aim of the study: To study and to describe factors which could influence the course of primary HIV infection (PHI) and factors that in turn could be influenced through PHI. In summary, this study will provide comprehensive knowledge on early HIV-infection with regard to epidemiology, impact of early-cART on the course of disease and forms the base for a variety of translational research projects addressing early key pathogenesis events between virus and host, relevant for the course of disease, for transmission, for development of vaccines and new treatment strategies.
The ZPHI is a longitudinal, observational, multi-center study. The ZPHI study started in 2002: The first patient visit (FPFV) was in January 2002. Since then, we continuously enrolled patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Because the ZPHI is an observational, longitudinal study and the HIV epidemic in Switzerland evolves continuously a clear study end point is not possible. We plan to critically revise the current protocol every 5 years and at that point, also evaluate whether the study should be continued. This study so far has been highly successful in the recruitment of patients with a PHI. To date we have enrolled more than 480 patients with a documented PHI since project start in 2002.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
800
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
RECRUITINGEvaluation of early events between virus and host to better understand HIV-pathogenesis during the early course of HIV infection.
The enrolment and the longitudinal follow up of patients with a documented PHI will allow us to study early events between virus and host and to better understand HIV-pathogenesis during the early course of HIV infection. We aim to expand the established biobank in order to collect samples from patients with an acute or recent HIV infection: For the biobank, we will collect blood samples which are obtained in addition to the routinely collected clinical samples. This concerns ETDA blood samples, initially collected every 3 months until week 48, followed by every six months until week 240 and thereafter once yearly from week 240 onwards. Moreover, a stool sample will be collected and stored for research purposes only. In addition, we will store routinely collected CSF, STI swabs (rectal, virginal, urethral, pharyngeal), urethral swabs, stool samples and in case of high-resolution anoscopy also rectal biopsy materialin the biobanks of the accoding institutes.
Time frame: 30 years
Systematic Collection and Analysis of Personal Health and Clinical Data
* Secondary Outcome: Number of participants with complete health and clinical datasets analyzed. * Unit of Measure: Count of datasets.
Time frame: 30 Years
Systematic Assessment of PHI to Identify Atypical Presentations
* Secondary Outcome: Percentage of participants presenting atypical symptoms of PHI. * Unit of Measure: Percentage.
Time frame: 30 Years
Systematic Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
* Secondary Outcome: Number of STI cases identified, classified by clinical characteristics and resistance patterns. * Unit of Measure: Count of cases
Time frame: 30 Years
Identification of Transmission Networks for HIV and Acute Hepatitis C
* Secondary Outcome: Number of transmission clusters identified through phylogenetic analysis. * Unit of Measure: Count of clusters.
Time frame: 30 Years
Investigation of Viral Factors in HIV-1 Pathogenesis
* Secondary Outcome: Percentage of patient samples with drug-resistant variants, viral diversity, or replication capacity metrics. * Unit of Measure: Percentage or specific diversity/replication scores.
Time frame: 30 Years
Analysis of Biological Characteristics of Transmitted Viruses
* Secondary Outcome: Replication capacity of transmitted viruses * Unit of Measure: Replication cycles/hour
Time frame: 30 Years
Study of HIV-Specific Immune Responses and Innate Immune System Factors
* Secondary Outcome: Concentration of immune markers, such as cytokine levels, associated with specific immune responses. * Unit of Measure: Concentration (pg/mL).
Time frame: 30 Years
Genetic Studies Using Next-Generation Sequencing to Investigate Traits Linked to HIV Progression
* Secondary Outcome: Number of genetic polymorphisms associated with differential progression in natural HIV infection. * Unit of Measure: Count of identified polymorphisms.
Time frame: 30 Years
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