Lymph nodes during antiretroviral therapy

Highly active antiretroviral therapy rapidly reduces virus replication in t he lymphoid tissue. Production of viral RNA, however, may still be detected in the lymphoid tissue despite negative plasma viremia. Continuing virus p roduction and latent infection in resting cells seem to be important factor s for viral rebound following treatment interruption. In parallel with vira l suppression. immune activation is decreased and CD4+ T cell counts in the lymphoid tissue increase. It is still not known if there is a potential fo r complete viral suppression and immune reconstitution. Analyses of the lym phoid tissue during therapy may be helpful in addressing these issues. Curr Opin infect Dis 14:17-22. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.