ART May Not Be as Forgiving as We Thought

Patients who were not entirely adherent to ART had evidence of new HIV replication in cells, despite virologic suppression in the plasma.

Modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) is thought to be fairly forgiving, in that the regimens continue to suppress plasma HIV RNA as long as adherence remains relatively high. But does ART also suppress intracellular HIV replication in the setting of suboptimal adherence?

To address this question, researchers measured cell-associated HIV RNA and DNA levels at three separate time points, 3 to 4 months apart, in 40 HIV-infected patients who had plasma viral loads <50 copies/mL on long-standing ART. At baseline, the median duration of suppressive ART was 46 months; 63% of patients were receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), 30% protease inhibitors (PIs), 3% both, and 5% triple-nucleoside regimens.

Adherence (measured el…

Reviewing Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

ART May Not Be as Forgiving as We Thought

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Reviewing Author