HIV-DNA in rectal cells is well correlated with   HIV-DNA in blood in different groups of patients,   including long-term non-progressors.
Most of the body's lymphoid tissue is in gut and constitutes an immense HIV reservoir. We quantified HIV-DNA in rectum and compared it with blood levels for 27 HIV-infected adults from different groups. We observed a large range of rectal and blood HIV-DNA levels. They were positively correlated (r = 0.841, P<0.0001). Long-term nonprogressors and patients in 'remission' after antiretroviral treatment interruption had the lowest blood and mucosal HIV-DNA levels.
Avettand-Fenoel
Véronique
V
AP-HP, Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Necker -Enfants Malades, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. veronique.avettand@nck.aphp.fr
Prazuck
Thierry
T
Hocqueloux
Laurent
L
Melard
Adeline
A
Michau
Christophe
C
Kerdraon
Rémy
R
Agoute
Eric
E
Rouzioux
Christine
C