Predictors of residual viraemia in patients on long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: HIV-1-infected individuals with plasma RNA<50 copies/ml on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may have residual, low-level viraemia detectable by PCR assays that are able to detect a single copy of viral RNA (single-copy assay [SCA]). The clinical predictors of residual viraemia in patients on long-term suppressive ART are not yet fully understood. METHODS: We evaluated factors associated with residual viraemia in patients on suppressive ART who underwent screening for a raltegravir intensification trial (ACTG A5244). The screened population was HIV-1-infected adults receiving ART for ≥ 12 months with pre-ART HIV-1 RNA>100,000 copies/ml and on-therapy RNA levels below detection limits of commercial assays for ≥ 6 months. RESULTS: Of 103 patients eligible for analysis, the median age was 46 years and the median duration of viral suppression was 4.8 years. 62% had detectable viraemia (>0.2 copies/ml) by SCA (median 0.2 copies/ml, IQR <0.2-1.8). Younger patients had lower HIV-1 RNA levels than older individuals (r=0.27, P=0.005). Patients with virological suppression on ART for 2 years or less had higher residual viraemia than those with suppression for >2 years (median 2.3 versus 0.2 copies/ml; P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Among HIV-1-infected patients with pre-ART HIV-1 RNA>100,000 copies/ml, residual viraemia was detectable in the majority (62%) despite many years of suppressive ART. Higher level viraemia was associated with older age and <2 years of virological suppression on ART. These findings should help in the selection of candidates for clinical trials of interventions designed to eliminate residual viraemia.

authors

  • Wilkin, Timothy
  • Zheng, Lu
  • Bosch, Ronald J
  • Chan, Ellen S
  • Read, Sarah
  • Kearney, Mary
  • Margolis, David M
  • Mellors, John W
  • Eron, Joseph J
  • Gandhi, Rajesh T

publication date

  • August 22, 2012

Research

keywords

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • HIV Infections
  • HIV-1
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viremia

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3578982

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84874406275

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.3851/IMP2323

PubMed ID

  • 22914318

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 18

issue

  • 1