title: Human immunodeficiency virus DNA in urethral secretions in men: association with gonococcal urethritis and CD4 cell depletion.
abstract: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells in urethral secretions, samples were collected from 106 HIV-seropositive men with and without urethritis. HIV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in 27% of 184 urethral specimens and was associated with CD4 cell depletion (P for trend, .03) and with urethritis (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-4.6) or gonorrhea (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.8). Two multivariate models were constructed that included age, CD4 cell count < 200/mm3, and either urethritis or gonococcal infection. Detection of HIV-infected cells in urethral secretions was independently associated with < 200 CD4 cells/mm3 (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.9-5.2; P = .05) and urethritis (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3-5.3; P = .003) in the first model and with gonococcal infection (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.6-6.4; P < .001) in the second model. Successful treatment of gonococcal urethritis was associated with a 2-fold reduction in urethral HIV DNA (44% vs. 21%; P = .02). Thus, treatment of gonococcal urethritis may be an effective strategy for reducing HIV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Overbaugh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bwayo
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ndinya-Achola
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Malisa
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kreiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000821:virology*; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014521:Urethra / Q000821:virology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral