1. Effect of antiretroviral therapy on HIV shedding in semen.
- Author
-
Barroso, Paulo F., Schechter, Mauro, Gupta, Phalguni, Melo, Maria F., Vieira, Marcello, Murta, Fernanda C., Souza, Yeda, Harrison, Lee H., Barroso, P F, Schechter, M, Gupta, P, Melo, M F, Vieira, M, Murta, F C, Souza, Y, and Harrison, L H
- Subjects
- *
ANTIVIRAL agents , *HIV infections , *THERAPEUTICS , *SEMEN , *RNA analysis , *COMBINATION drug therapy , *CLINICAL trials , *COMPARATIVE studies , *HIV , *LONGITUDINAL method , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *NONPARAMETRIC statistics , *RESEARCH , *RNA , *VIRAL physiology , *VIRAL load , *EVALUATION research , *ANTI-HIV agents , *PHARMACODYNAMICS - Abstract
Background: The effect of antiretroviral therapy on seminal HIV shedding in the community remains unknown.Objective: To evaluate the effect of antiretroviral therapy on HIV shedding in semen.Design: Prospective cohort study.Setting: University hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Patients: 93 HIV-infected men.Intervention: Antiretroviral therapy as prescribed by each patient's physician.Measurement: HIV RNA in semen and blood plasma before and after introduction of therapy.Results: At baseline, HIV RNA was detected in 69 semen samples (74%) and 89 blood samples (96%). Six months after introduction of therapy, HIV RNA was detected in 29 semen samples (33%) and 33 blood samples (38%). The mean reduction in levels of HIV RNA in semen at 6 months was 1.65 log10 units.Conclusions: Antiretroviral therapy reduces shedding of HIV in semen, which probably in tum reduces HIV transmissibility. However, a substantial proportion of patients may still be infectious and may have drug-resistant strains of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF