Supersensitive Viral Load Assay in Predicting CD4-Guided Treatment Failure.
In HIV patients who discontinue highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the degree of HIV RNA suppression at the time of treatment interruption may predict success of re-treatment after the interruption (STI). A case-control substudy of the Staccato trial in Thailand included CD4-guided STI subjects with HIV RNA > 50 copies /ml (virological failure cases, n=11) and HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml (controls, n=22) after 12-24 weeks of HAART re-treatment following a median of 2 STI cycles. Controls were matched for age, gender and pre-ART CD4 count. HIV RNA with 5 copies/ml detection limit was determined on pre-virological failure samples. HIV RNA increased in cases compared to controls with each successive STI cycle (p-trend across time-points 0.004). The last HIV RNA below 50 copies/ml was significantly higher among cases compared to controls (p=.004). Measuring HIV RNA below 50 copies/ml may be useful in predicting virological failure to STI.
Langford
Simone
S
The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), Bangkok, Thailand.
Gayet-Ageron
Angele
A
Duncombe
Chris
C
Jupimai
Thidarat
T
Mahanontharit
Apicha
A
Kiertiburanakul
Sasisopin
S
Munsakul
Warangkana
W
Ruxrungtham
Kiat
K
Hirschel
Bernard
B
Ananworanich
Jintanat
J