Significant differences between plasma HIV-1 RNA assays in HIV-1 subtype E infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy.
A total of 72 HIV-1 infected Thai patients treated with didanosine (ddI) or stavudine (d4T) plus ddI at the time of interim analysis were analyzed. Sixty patients (83%) carried subtype E documented by HIV-1 V3 serotyping. HIV-1 RNA levels were measured using three commercial viral load assays. At baseline (n = 57), Quantiplex 2.0 and NucliSens 2.0 showed mean log10 HIV-1 RNA of 0.7 log10 or 5 fold lower than Amplicor 1.5 (mean 4.29 versus 5.0 log10, respectively, p < 0.001). At week 20 of treatment (n = 29), HIV-1 RNA levels were detected in 55.2%, 31%, and 33.5% of subjects tested by Amplicor 1.5, Quantiplex 2.0, and NucliSens 2.0, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
plasma HIV-1 RNA analyses showed comparable values with Quantiplex 2.0 and NucliSens 2.0 assays. In contrast, Amplicor 1.5 resulted in approximately 5 folds higher HIV-1 RNA levels and a 25% higher rate of detection of plasma HIV-1 RNA as compared to the other two assays. As the current goal of therapy is to suppress plasma viral load below the detection limit of the assays, the significant differences between the assays may influence antiretroviral efficacy evaluation and management.
Ruxrungtham
Kiat
K
The Netherlands, Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ubolyam
Sasiwimol
S
Hassink
Elly A
EA
Ungsedhapand
Chaiwat
C
Kroon
Eugene
E
Duncombe
Chris
C
Weverling
Gerrit Jan
GJ
Nookai
Somboon
S
Lange
Joep
J
Cooper
David
D
Phanuphak
Praphan
P
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D021121:Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016049:Didanosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D021161:Self-Sustained Sequence Replication; D012703:Serotyping; D018119:Stavudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018119:Stavudine; D016049:Didanosine