A Cause of HIV Persistence

Low antiretroviral drug concentrations in lymphatic tissue appear to contribute to viral persistence.

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has vastly improved quality of life and decreased mortality for HIV-infected individuals, patients often continue to have low levels of CD4 cells in lymphatic tissue.

Noting that drug-distribution studies in animal models of AIDS had shown antiretroviral (ARV) drug concentrations to differ between tissues and peripheral blood, investigators started 12 HIV-infected individuals on ART (tenofovir and FTC plus efavirenz, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir, or darunavir) and followed them for 6 months, taking samples of peripheral blood as well as lymph node, ileal, and rectal tissue. Before the study, 10 of the individuals had been ART naive, and the other 2 had been off ART for >1 year.

All participants achieved e…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

A Cause of HIV Persistence

Topics

Reviewing Author