Characteristics and clinical significance of plasma IL‐18, sCD14, and sCD163 levels in patients with HIV‐1 infection

Biomarkers of monocyte‐macrophages activation and inflammation in plasma such as interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), soluble leukocyte differentiation antigen 14 (sCD14), and sCD163 are associated with disease severity and prognosis in HIV‐1 infected patients, however, their relationships with efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) need further investigation. We aimed to characterize and explore the clinical significance of plasma IL‐18, sCD14, and sCD163 in this population. This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of HIV‐1 infected patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled, open‐label, noninferiority trial (ALTERLL study), with follow‐up time points including initiation of ART (baseline), 12‐, 24‐ and 48‐weeks of treatment. Plasma levels of IL‐18, sCD14, and sCD163 were measured using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. Viral suppression was defined as HIV‐1 RNA