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Because of improvements in the sensitivity of viral-load assays, it is now possible to detect HIV RNA levels below 50 copies/mL. However, in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), the clinical implication of a detectable viral load <50 copies/mL (i.e., low-level viremia) is uncertain. To address this issue, investigators assessed whether low-level viremia, measured with an assay that has a detection limit of 3 copies/mL, is a predictor of viral rebound.
A total of 1214 HIV-infected patients with viral loads <50 copies/mL on ART were followed for 12 months in a prospective cohort study. On average, patients had received four previous regimens; only 23% were on initial therapy.
During the study, 2.6% of patients experienced viral rebound, de…