Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA in blood as indicator of virus load in lymph nodes. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study.
We have developed sensitive assays for viremia and cell-associated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA and DNA to assess the predictive value of virological parameters determined in blood for virus load in lymph nodes (LNs). Eighteen patients were included; 13 received stavudine/didanosine/hydroxyurea and 5 stavudine/didanosine, and all had viremia <500 copies/mL for >3 months. At the time of LN biopsy (median, 10 months), the median viremia was 2.09 log copies/mL (range, <0.70-3.34). Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA and DNA were detectable in blood and LNs of all patients. The median cell-associated RNA and DNA were 2.16 log copies/106 cells and 2.60 log copies/106 cells in blood versus 4.31 log RNA copies/106 cells and 3.26 log DNA copies/106 cells in LNs. Regression analysis shows that, in treated patients with sustained low viremia, cell-associated RNA and DNA in blood are better predictors of virus load in LNs than viremia.
Yerly
S
S
Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Rutschmann
O T
OT
Opravil
M
M
Marchal
F
F
Hirschel
B
B
Perrin
L
L
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016049:Didanosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018119:Stavudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018119:Stavudine; D016049:Didanosine; D006918:Hydroxyurea