Virological and immunological profiles among patients with undetectable viral load followed prospectively for 24 months
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
OBJECTIVE: To quantify HIV-RNA in plasma, in lymphoid tissue and proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to relate these to immunological markers among patients with plasma viral load counts of </= 200 HIV-RNA copies/mL.
METHODS: A prospective study of one hundred and three patients was undertaken with an inclusion criteria of plasma viral load of </= 200 copies/mL. The patients had advanced HIV infection; 25% had developed AIDS. Patients were seen every 6 months for a period of 2 years.
RESULTS: The median plasma viral load was < 20 copies/mL with no increase during follow-up. Thirty-one per cent had plasma viral load of </= 20 copies/mL at all visits, 44% had >/= 1 measurement with 21-200 and 25% had >/= 1 sample with plasma HIV-RNA > 200 copies/mL. Lymphoid tissue viral load was low at enrolment and declined further during follow-up. Baseline HIV-DNA and immunoglobulin (IgA) differed significantly between the plasma viral load rebound groups (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: In this cohort, selected solely on the basis of having a plasma viral load of </= 200 copies/mL, we found stable or declining viral loads in the measured compartments during 2 years of follow-up. Baseline HIV-DNA and IgA levels were higher among patients with less complete virological suppression relative to patients with persistently undetectable plasma HIV-RNA. Hence, a high cellular level of HIV-DNA and high plasma IgA may predict subsequent development of low-grade viraemia.
Original language | English |
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Journal | HIV Medicine |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 53-61 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISSN | 1464-2662 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2003 |
- Adult, Aged, Anti-HIV Agents, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, DNA, Viral, Female, Follow-Up Studies, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Immunoglobulin A, Lymphoid Tissue, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Proviruses, RNA, Viral, Viral Load, Viremia, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research areas
ID: 180571437