HIV-DNA undetectability during chronic HIV infection: frequency and predictive factors. (25th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nozza, Silvia; Galli, Laura; Gianotti, Nicola; Parisi, Mariarita; Poli, Andrea; Cinque, Paola; Spagnuolo, Vincenzo; Bruzzesi, Elena; Mastrangelo, Andrea; Castagna, Antonella
• Is Part Of: Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. Volume 75:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 2994
• Page End: 2997
• Publication Date: 2020-06-25
• Subjects: Anti-infective agents -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.58
• DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7453

Abstract

Abstract: Background: HIV-DNA is a marker of HIV reservoirs. Objectives of the study were to determine prevalence of HIV-DNA < 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs in blood and to identify factors associated with this in a cohort of HIV‐1-infected subjects treated with ART and with undetectable viral load (VL). Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study on chronic HIV‐1-infected people living with HIV (PLWH) followed up at the Department of Infectious Diseases of San Raffaele Scientific Institute on current ART without change for 12 months, with available pre-ART HIV-RNA and with undetectable VL for ≥12 months. HIV-DNA was amplified and quantified by real‐time PCR (ABI Prism 7900); limit of detectability was 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs. Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for HIV-DNA < 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs. Results: Four hundred and sixty-eight PLWH were considered in the analyses, 119 (25%) with HIV-DNA < 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs. At multivariate analysis, we found that PLWH with lower zenith HIV-RNA, higher nadir CD4 and a shorter time between HIV diagnosis and ART start were more likely to have HIV-DNA < 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs, after adjustment for age, gender, calendar year of ART start, type of current ART regimen, percentage time spent with undetectable VL since ART start, current CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio. Conclusions: In our chronic PLWH on virological suppression for 4 years, the prevalence of HIV-DNA < 100 copies/10 6 PBMCs was found to be 25%. Lower zenith HIV-RNA, shorter time between HIV diagnosis and starting ART and higher CD4 nadir were independently associated with low HIV-DNA.