Natural history and risk factors associated with early and established HIV type 1 infection among reproductive-age women in Malawi.
BACKGROUND
Data evaluating the biological events and determinants of early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined plasma viral levels and trends during early and established HIV-1 infection among reproductive-age women who participated in a randomized trial to treat genital tract infection in Malawi. We also assessed the association of injectable hormonal contraceptive use with HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
We studied 3 groups of women who were infected or uninfected with HIV-1: seroconverters, seroprevalent women, and seronegative women. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected at baseline and every 3 months for 1 year. The virus set point in seroconverters and levels and trends of viral load over time were determined. The associations of injectable hormonal contraceptive use with HIV-1 infection and viral load were assessed using conditional logistic regression and mixed-effect models, respectively.


RESULTS
In the original clinical trial, 844 women infected with HIV-1 and 842 women not infected with HIV-1 were enrolled. Of 31 women who experienced seroconversion during 12 months, 27 were matched with 54 seroprevalent and 54 seronegative women. The estimated median plasma virus set point was 4.45 log(10) copies/mL (interquartile range, 4.32-5.14 log(10) copies/mL). Injectable hormonal contraceptive use was significantly associated with HIV-1 seroconversion (adjusted odds ratio, 10.42; P = .03) but not with established HIV-1 infection. Among the seroconverters, a statistically significant interaction was found between the linear association of viral load and time of injectable hormonal contraceptive use (regression coefficient, -0.14; P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of virus set point and trends of viral load in HIV-1 seroincident and seroprevalent asymptomatic women could assist in antiretroviral treatment management.
Kumwenda
Johnstone J
JJ
College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri.
Makanani
Bonus
B
Taulo
Frank
F
Nkhoma
Chiwawa
C
Kafulafula
George
G
Li
Qing
Q
Kumwenda
Newton
N
Taha
Taha E
TE
D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D012367:RNA, Viral