title: Natural history and risk factors associated with early and established HIV type 1 infection among reproductive-age women in Malawi.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri.
authors.forename: Johnstone J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kumwenda
authors.forename: Bonus
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Makanani
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taulo
authors.forename: Chiwawa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nkhoma
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kafulafula
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Newton
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumwenda
authors.forename: Taha E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Taha
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D012367:RNA, Viral