4th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections


Washington, DC - January 22-26, 1997

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Correlation of cell-free and cell-associated HIV RNA levels in plasma and vaginal secretions.

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1997 Jan 22-26; 4th:69 (abstract no. 25)

Hart C, Palmore M, Wright T, Lennox J, Evans-Strickfaden T, Bush T, Schnell C, Conley L, Ellerbrock TV; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

Objective: To correlate cell-free and cell-associated HIV RNA levels in plasma and vaginal secretions from HIV-infected women.

Methods: QC-PCR in combination with a newly developed microtiter detection assay was used to quantify HIV RNA in samples from 36 nonpregnant, HIV-infected women enrolled in an ongoing prospective study. Cell-free and cell-associated viral loads were determined in plasma and 10 ml vaginal lavages.

Results: Cell-free and cell-associated HIV RNA were detected in 100% (36/36) and 97% (28/29) of plasma samples, respectively, and in 67% (24/36) and 63% (19/30) of vaginal lavages, respectively. Cell-free HIV RNA in plasma ranged from 568 to 2.67 x 105 copies/ml (median=2.02 x 104); total cell-free vaginal RNA ranged from 475 to 1.69 x 105 copies (median=2.42 x 103). Cell-associated HIV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ranged from 145 to 1.05 x 105 copies/2 x 10(6) cells (median=3.22 x 103); total cell-associated vaginal RNA ranged from 198 to 1.30 x 105 copies (median=732). The amount of cell-free RNA in plasma was correlated with that in vaginal lavage (Spearman correlation coefficient R=0.6, p is less than 0.001). Cell-free and cell-associated RNA were highly correlated in plasma (R=0.8, p is less than 0.001) and vaginal lavage (R=0.9, p is less than 0.001). Cell-free RNA in plasma and vaginal lavage were negatively correlated with CD4+count (R=-0.5, p=0.001 and R=-0.4, p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusion: In nonpregnant women, cell-free plasma and vaginal HIV RNA levels are correlated. The high correlation of cell-free and cell-associated viral load in vaginal secretions suggests that some viral production occurs locally.

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Copyright © 1980, 1997 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed through AIDSLINE, National Library of Medicine.