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Amplifying and Quantifying HIV-1 RNA in HIV Infected Individuals with Viral Loads Below the Limit of Detection by Standard Clinical Assays
Published on: September 26, 2011
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Characterizing Patients with Very-Low-Level HIV Viremia: A Community-Based Study
Elie Helou1, Sheela Shenoi2, Tassos Kyriakides3
11 Yale-New Haven Hospital, Section of Infectious Disease, New Haven, CT, USA.
Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
|December 2, 2016
Summary
Very-low-level viremia (VLLV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients often resolves without treatment changes. This finding suggests VLLV does not necessarily predict treatment failure, reducing the need for immediate intervention.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Very-low-level viremia (VLLV) is defined as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA Viral Load (VL) between 20-50 copies/mL.
- Advancements in assay technology allow for the detection of previously undetectable low viral loads.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize patients with VLLV.
- To identify risk factors associated with virologic failure and poor clinical outcomes in patients with VLLV.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 119 patients with VLLV.
- Analysis of sociodemographic data, viral load, and CD4 counts over 12 months.
- Regression analysis to determine predictors of virologic failure.
Main Results:
- Of 100 evaluable patients, 70% achieved undetectable viral load within 12 months without treatment modification.
- 15% experienced virologic failure (VL > 50 copies/mL), with a trend towards alcohol use as a predictor.
- Virologic failure was associated with white males, comorbidities, and higher pill burden.
Conclusions:
- VLLV does not invariably predict virologic failure in HIV patients.
- Routine VLLV monitoring may not require immediate antiretroviral therapy changes or increased clinic visits.
- Further research is needed to understand predictors of virologic failure and clinical management of VLLV.
