Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of HIV-1 RNA and DNA loads in blood and the female genital tract.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: To examine if correlates of HIV-1 genital shedding in cross-sectional studies can be used to determine the risk of shedding in individual HIV-1-positive women. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal samples from blood and cervix were obtained from 18 HIV-1 infected women, and HIV-1 RNA and cell-associated DNA virus, and beta-chemokine levels, were measured. Associations between variables were analyzed at both individual and group level. RESULTS: The variation over time was 2.9-, 2.1-, and 2.3-fold in plasma RNA, PBMC DNA and cervical RNA load, respectively, and reached 6.2-fold in cervical DNA load. Differences were observed between associations in individual- and group-level comparisons, suggesting that a separate reservoir of HIV replication may exist in the genital tract of some women, which is influenced by local environmental factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscores the importance of caution during contact with genital fluids at all stages of infection and disease regardless of treatment and HIV-1 blood loads.

Authors: Iversen, A; Attermann, J; Gerstoft, J; Fugger, L; Mullins, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
• Volume: 117
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 227-235
• Publication date: 2004-12-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.05.016
• EISSN: 1872-7654
• ISSN: 0301-2115
• Language: English
• Keywords: Denmark; RNA, Viral; Adolescent; Chemokines, CC; Infant, Newborn; Child, Preschool; Child; Aged; Humans; HIV-1; Adult; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Genitalia, Female; Infant; DNA, Viral; Viral Load; Female