title: The HIV RNA Levels of Plasma and Ocular Fluids in AIDS Patients with Ophthalmic Infections.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on HIV viral load of plasma and intraocular fluids in AIDS patients with ophthalmic opportunistic infections. We further compared the treatment effect of HAART on these patients. From June 1997 to July 2003, we examined and followed up the ophthalmic conditions of 49 patients receiving HAART with ophthalmic diseases during this period. The method of reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to detect and monitor HIV load in plasma and/or aqueous humor of AIDS patients. Before HAART, the HIV levels in the plasma and aqueous humor in 8 AIDS patients with ophthalmic opportunistic infections were significantly higher than those in 6 patients with HIV-related retinopathy (p < 0.05). Compared to the eye findings and clinical improvement, HIV loads of aqueous humor in 10 of 14 AIDS patients (6 with HIV-related retinopathy, 5 with cytomegalovirus retinitis, 2 with toxoplasmic retinitis and 1 with cryptococcal chorioretinitis) declined to undetectable levels (< 400 copies/ml) after 4-8 months of HAART. HIV virus levels in the plasma of AIDS patients were significantly decreased, and the CD4 counts of these patients were significantly increased (Wilcoxon test) after initiation of HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University and Institutes of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shih-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Steve S-L
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mon-Ping
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Shyong
authors.forename: Chi-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chih-Chiau
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Szu-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Chin-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000821:virology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral