Transcriptomic biomarker pathways associated with death in HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal meningitis

to identify transcriptomic biomarker pathways in peripheral blood that are associated with or predict the development of death or fatal C-IRIS among patients with CM who were enrolled in the Cryptococcal Optimal ART Timing (COAT) Trial. Overall design: We assessed peripheral blood gene expression using next-generation RNA sequencing in 4 groups of patients with CM: 1) no C-IRIS or Death; 2) C-IRIS survivors; 3) fatal C-IRIS; 4) Death without C-IRIS. Gene expression was assessed at the time of ART initiation, at 1, 4, and 8 weeks on ART, and at the time of C-IRIS events.