Higher levels of HIV DNA in memory and naive CD4(+) T cell subsets of viremic compared to non-viremic patients after 18 and 24 months of HAART

The degree of infection of memory and naive CD4(+) T cells in patients trea ted with HAART and with durable undetectable or detectable viral load in pl asma was evaluated. The following two groups of patients were analyzed cros s-sectionally: (i) patients with undetectable HIV RNA plasma levels during follow-up (responders): (ii) patients with no reduction or with rebound in HIV RNA levels during treatment (non-responders). Patients were examined fo llowing 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of HAART. respectively, by quantifying: (i) plasma HIV RNA load; (ii) CD4(+) T cells; (iii) memory and naive CD4(+) T cells; (iv) HIV DNA levels in memory and naive CD4(+) T cells. HIV RNA plas ma levels were significantly higher in non-responders vs responders at each time point (P < 0.02), while CD4(+) T cell counts as well as memory and na ive CD4(+) T cell levels were comparable in both viremic and non-viremic pa tients. However, higher HIV DNA values were observed in both memory and nai ve CD4(+) T cells of non-responders vs responders after 18 and 24 months of HAART (P < 0.02), suggesting an increased amount of HIV-infected naive CD4 (+) T cells and a sustained high degree of infection of memory CD4(+) T cel ls. Immunological reconstitution following HAART might potentially be hampe red in viremic patients despite the absolute increase in CD4(+) T cell coun ts. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.