Age at antiretroviral therapy initiation and cell-associated HIV-1 DNA levels in HIV-1-infected children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The latent viral reservoir is the major obstacle to achieving HIV remission and necessitates life-long antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected individuals. Studies in adults and children have found that initiating ART soon after infection is associated with a reduction in the size of the HIV-1 reservoir. Here we quantified cell-associated HIV-1 DNA in early-treated but currently older HIV-infected children suppressed on ART.

Methods

The study participants comprised of a cohort of 146 early-treated children with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml enrolled as part of a clinical trial in Johannesburg, South Africa. A stored buffy coat sample collected after a median 4.3 years on ART and where HIV-1 RNA was <50 copies/ml was tested for cell-associated HIV-1 DNA levels. An

SUBMITTER: Kuhn L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5896970 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature