Persistence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 DNA in Peripheral Blood Despite Prolonged Suppression of Plasma HIV‐1 RNA in Children

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was quantified in 31 children who received efavirenz, nelfinavir, and 1 or 2 nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors for ⩾2 years and in whom undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA levels (6 PBMC. After initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-1 DNA levels decreased gradually, reaching a plateau from week 80 through week 104 (median HIV-1 DNA level, 263 copies/ 10⁶ PBMC). Children who had plasma HIV-1 RNA levels n = 16) had persistently lower quantities of intracellular HIV-1 DNA than children whose HIV-1 RNA levels reached n = 15). The median half-life for intracellular HIV-1 DNA was 60 weeks. Thus, despite prolonged maintenance of undetectable levels of plasma HIV-1 RNA, HIV-1 DNA remains detectable in PBMC of children and may be a useful marker of further virus suppression.