Epstein-Barr virus DNA loads in adult human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
Patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are at high risk of developing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoma. However, little is known of the EBV DNA loads in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, we demonstrated that significantly more HIV-1-infected patients receiving HAART than HIV-1-uninfected volunteers had detectable EBV DNA in blood (57 [81%] of 70 vs. 11 [16%] of 68 patients; P=.001) and saliva (55 [79%] of 68 vs. 37 [54%] of 68 patients; P=.002). The mean EBV loads in blood and saliva samples were also higher in HIV-1-infected patients than in HIV-1-uninfected volunteers (P=.001). The frequency of EBV detection in blood was associated with lower CD4+ cell counts (P=.03) among HIV-1-infected individuals, although no differences were observed in the EBV DNA loads in blood or saliva samples in the HIV-1-infected group. Additional studies are needed to determine whether EBV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ cells play a role in the pathogenesis of EBV in HIV-1-infected patients receiving HAART.
Ling
Paul D
PD
Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor Center for AIDS Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Vilchez
Regis A
RA
Keitel
Wendy A
WA
Poston
David G
DG
Peng
Rong Sheng
RS
White
Zoe S
ZS
Visnegarwala
Fehmida
F
Lewis
Dorothy E
DE
Butel
Janet S
JS
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral