Treatment With Probiotics (Saccharomyces Boulardii) and Its Role in Bacterial Translocation and Immune Reconstitution in VIH Infection.

Objectives: MAIN: To evaluate the parameters of microbial translocation after treatment with probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii) in HIV+ patients and its role on immune reconstitution and the changes in gut microbiota composition.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: 1) To analyze the progress of immune activity markers after the administration of probiotics. 2) To determine the improvement of CD4+ lymphocytes and HIV viral load in patients after taking probiotics.

Methods: Design: A prospective randomized open controlled double-blinded trial, to be performed at a tertiary care hospital in Barcelona. Subjects: Chronic HIV infected patients. Sample size: 44 cases. They´ll be divided in 2 groups: (1) Patients with CD4 +> 400 cells / ml and undetectable viral load for more than two years (22 cases) and (2) Patients with immunodiscordancy, defined as patients with CD4 + T cells lower than 350 cells / ml despite 4-7 years of effective antiretroviral therapy. (22 cases). Intervention: Patients were randomized in 2 subgroups: (A) they´ll receive daily oral supplementation with S. boulardii for 3 months and (B) they ´ll receive placebo. Variables: bacterial lipopolisaccharide levels measured by the Lipid-Binding protein (LBP), parameters of immune activation in plasma (soluble CD14, IFN-Υ, TNF-Alpha, IL (interleukine)-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12)and gut microbiota composition prior to the use of probiotics (baseline), at 3 and 6 months. Immunological and clinical data. Outcome measures: quantification of bacterial translocation levels, markers of activity and immune recovery. Analysis: Comparison of variables before and after the intervention. The analysis will be performed by biological and immunological effectiveness.