HIV-1 plasma viremia not increased in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy after influenza vaccination

The effect of vaccinating patients with sustained undetectable HIV-1 viremi a (VL) achieved with highly active antiretroviral therapy was prospectively investigated. During the 1998 influenza immunization period, 39 HIV-1-infe cted patients who showed a VL<20 copies/ml for at least 6 months before the study entry date were vaccinated for influenza. Twenty-two vaccinees were immunized at entry. Seventeen controls were followed for 4 weeks after entr y, crossing over then to the vaccination group. The proportion of patients with undetectable VL was not significantly different between the vaccinatio n and control groups 2 and 4 weeks after entry. Therefore, influenza immuni zation of patients with undetectable viremia achieved with highly active an tiretroviral therapy does not seem to affect VL.