Longitudinal comparison between plasma and seminal HIV-1 viral loads during antiretroviral treatment

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2003 Nov-Dec;36(6):689-94. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822003000600008. Epub 2004 Feb 17.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the impact of anti-retroviral therapy on both plasma and seminal HIV-1 viral loads and the correlation between viral loads in these compartments after treatment. Viral load, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts were evaluated in paired plasma and semen samples from 36 antiretroviral therapy-naive patients at baseline and on days 45, 90, and 180 of treatment. Slopes for blood and seminal viral loads in all treated patients were similar (p = 0.21). Median HIV-1 RNA titers in plasma and semen at baseline were 4.95 log10 and 4.48 log10 copies/ml, respectively. After 180 days of therapy, the median viral load declined to 3.15 log10 copies/ml (plasma) and 3.2 log10 copies/ml (semen). At this timepoint 22 patients presented HIV-1 viral load below 400 copies/ml in either plasma or semen, but only 9 had viral loads below 400 copies/ml in both compartments.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Semen / virology*
  • Viral Load*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • RNA, Viral