Journal
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volume 202, Issue 10, Pages 1543-1552Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1086/656720
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Louisiana Board of Regents
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background. Identification of factors associated with the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in female genital secretions is critical for intervention strategies targeting transmission and eliminating replication of genital virus. We sought to monitor the prevalence of genital HIV shedding in antiretroviral therapy-adherent women over time and to assess changes in the genital microenvironment. Methods. Levels of cell-free HIV (HIV RNA) and HIV-infected cells (HIV DNA) were monitored in peripheral blood samples and cervical and vaginal fluid samples at monthly intervals in 11 women for 1 year. Genital tract infections and fluctuations in cervical and vaginal white blood cell counts were also evaluated at each study visit. Results. Plasma HIV was undetectable at the majority of study visits; when detected, it was only at low levels. Throughout the study, genital HIV RNA and DNA were detected in each person. Combined genital HIV (RNA and DNA) was detected at 49.2% of study visits and was associated with an elevated concentration of cervical white blood cell infiltrate (odds ratio, 2.52 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-6.22]; P = .04). Infiltrate was not associated with a clinical disorder or patient-reported symptoms. Conclusions. Despite antiretroviral therapy adherence and clinically suppressed plasma viremia, HIV was intermittently detected in genital secretions and was associated with subclinical inflammation and cells trafficking to the cervical mucosa.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available