title: Predictive value of intracellular HIV-1 DNA levels during CD4-guided treatment interruption in HIV+ patients.
abstract: The amount of HIV-1 DNA within peripheral blood mononuclear cells is an important marker of viral activity. We studied intracellular HIV-1 DNA content in purified CD4(+) T cells from 28 chronically HIV-1-infected adults with sustained CD4(+) T cell counts (>500 cells/microl) and undetectable plasma viral load (<50 copies/ml), who underwent CD4-guided treatment interruption (TI). Patients were followed up for 18 months during TI, and for 6 months after treatment resumption (TR). Six naïve HIV(+) patients starting therapy were also enrolled and followed up for 6 months. All patients were studied every 2 months; HIV-1 DNA copy number was quantified with real-time PCR. Considering all patients remaining off-treatment, in the first 18 months of TI, intracellular HIV-1 DNA levels (expressed as Log(10) copies/million cells) remained stable (mean, 3.82 and 3.77 at time 0 and after 18 months, respectively). Similarly, HIV-1 DNA values, either in patients who restarted treatment after TI (time 0, 4.90) or in naïve patients who started treatment for the first time (time 0, 4.37), did not change significantly in the first 6 months of therapy (4.42 and 3.67, respectively). Evaluating HIV-1 DNA variations during the first 2 months of TI, we found that patients with a stable level had a lower risk to reach a CD4(+) T cell count <350 cells/microl, and thus to restart therapy, whereas this risk was significantly higher in those with a marked increase of HIV-1 DNA. In conclusion, intracellular HIV-1 DNA is a predictive marker for the length of CD4-guided TI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibellini
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bisi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Biasi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Giovane
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Vanni
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mussini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral