Residual viraemia in subjects with chronic HIV infection and viral load < 50 copies/ml: the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

Objective: To determine factors associated with < 2.5 copies/ml plasma HIV RNA in subjects treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and with viraemia < 50 copies/ml.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of 84 HIV-positive patients taking HAART with plasma HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml for at least 6 months and no history of virological failure.

Methods: Current HAART therapy was based on a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in 66%, a protease inhibitor in 26% and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in 7%. Viraemia levels were measured using a modified ultrasensitive Roche Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor test able to quantify plasma HIV RNA to a lower limit of 2.5 copies /ml; proviral DNA was measured with a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Analysis of variance and multiple logistic regression analysis were utilized to test for associations between residual replication and other variables.

Results: Residual HIV viraemia > 2.5 copies/ml was found in 50% of subjects; 94% of subjects had detectable proviral DNA (>or= 20 copies/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and 21% had archived mutations. Usage of a NNRTI-based HAART was the only independent predictor of viral suppression below the cut-off value of the modified ultrasensitive assay.

Conclusions: In our population, NNRTI-based HAART seems to have a stronger impact on residual replication than protease inhibitor-based HAART. This finding may be considered in therapeutic decisions such as the choice of initial HAART regimen and the interruption or simplification of treatment.