Determinazione quantitativa di HIV-1 DNA nel follow-up del paziente HIV-1 infetto: esperienza in un gruppo di soggetti HIV-1 infetti

Proviral HIV-1 DNA can represent an alternative viral marker to RNA viral load during the follow-up of HIV-1 infected individuals. Sequential blood samples of 12 patients under antiretroviral treatment from 1997 with two NRTIs, who refused to continue any antiviral regimen, were analyzed for 16-20 weeks to study the possible relationship between DNA and RNA viral load. Results obtained showed an increase or a rebound in viral DNA, quantified by SYBR green real-time PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in most patients, suggesting that the absence of therapy reflects an increase and/or a persistence of cells containing viral DNA. Even though plasma HIV RNA levels remain the basic parameter to monitor the intensity of viral replication, the results obtained seem to indicate that DNA levels could represent an adjunct prognostic marker in monitoring HIV-1 infected subjects.