Open AccessPersistent HIV RNA shedding in semen despite effective antiretroviral therapy
Author(s) -
Prameet M. Sheth,
Colin Kovacs,
Kimdar Sherefa Kemal,
R. Brad Jones,
Janet Raboud,
Richard Pilon,
Charles la Porte,
Mario Ostrowski,
Mona Loutfy,
Harold Burger,
Barbara Weiser,
Rupert Kaul
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
aids
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.195
H-Index - 216
eISSN - 1473-5571
pISSN - 0269-9370
DOI - 10.1097/qad.0b013e3283303e04
Subject(s) - semen , sexual transmission , sex organ , viral load , viral shedding , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antiretroviral therapy , lentivirus , regimen , virology , medicine , immunology , transmission (telecommunications) , biology , viral disease , andrology , virus , microbicide , electrical engineering , genetics , engineering
Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) may reduce HIV sexual transmission by lowering genital HIV levels. A prospective study of men starting ART (n = 25) demonstrated rapid, substantial reductions in semen HIV RNA. However, despite an undetectable blood viral load, isolated semen HIV shedding was detected at more than one visit in 12 of 25 (48%) participants, with semen HIV RNA levels exceeding 5000 copies/ml in four of 25 (16%). Isolates were drug-sensitive, and this phenomenon was not associated with semen drug levels or regimen.