Longitudinal quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA and RNA in long-term nonprogressors.
Twenty patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection for >7 years, no HIV-1-related symptoms, no treatment, and CD4+ cell counts >500/microL were included in a prospective study in 1993. Four years later, 12 patients had progressed (SPs), while 8 had not (long-term nonprogressors [LTNPs]). At inclusion, HIV-1 RNA, but not DNA, levels were higher in SPs. During follow-up, a consistent increase in HIV-1 RNA was seen in only 1 LTNP. In 2 LTNPs, plasma viremia was persistently undetectable or <110 copies/mL. Infectious virus was isolated from only 1 LTNP and from 11 SPs. In 4 LTNPs, HIV-1 DNA levels decreased spontaneously with time. The restricted viral replication and the declining HIV-1 DNA levels suggest that the HIV-1 infection can be controlled efficiently in a few LTNPs, leading to a decrease in the total virus burden with time.
Broström
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Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, S-14186 Huddinge/Stockholm, Sweden. olle. brostrom@sos.ki.se.
Visco-Comandini
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Yun
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Sönnerborg
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D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral