title: Low-level viremia is associated with non-B subtypes in patients infected with HIV with virological success following HAART introduction.
abstract: This prospective study aimed to determine factors associated with detection of very low-level viremia in patients infected with HIV-1 with virological success following HAART introduction. Fifty-seven patients, mostly (n = 51, 89%) treated with a protease inhibitor-based regimen, were included and followed for 2 years. Viral loads were monitored by Abbott m2000 RealTime HIV-1. Patients were classified as (i) HIV-RNA-negative if viral loads remained strictly undetectable (0 copies/ml), or (ii) HIV-RNA-positive if at least one HIV-1 RNA could be detected in 1-49 copies/ml during follow-up. At month 24, 44 patients (77%) were in the HIV-RNA-positive group, whereas 13 (23%) remained without very low-level viremia. Univariate analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that B subtype was the only predictor of belonging to the HIV-RNA-negative group (HR 3.98; 95% CI 1.08-14.7). This association needs to be confirmed. Further study of the reservoir and the mechanisms of viral latency according to HIV-subtype will also be necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies and eradicate HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, Croix-Rousse Hospital, HCL, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saison
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tardy
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scholtes
authors.forename: Vinca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Icard
authors.forename: Mary-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Trabaud
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perpoint
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chidiac
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ecochard
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral