AEGiS-11IAC: HIV-1 RNA quantification by NASBA in matched plasma and cervico-vaginal lavage in HIV seropositive women.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

HIV-1 RNA quantification by NASBA in matched plasma and cervico-vaginal lavage in HIV seropositive women.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:27 (abstract no. LB.B.6024)
Caliendo A, Cu-Uvin S, Costello S, Murphy D, Mayer K, Flanigan T, Carpenter C; Brown University AIDS Program, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI. Fax: (401) 331-8501.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitate HIV-1 RNA levels in matched plasma and cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) specimens from HIV-1 positive women.

METHODS: Matched plasma and CVL specimens were collected from 22 HIV-1 positive women. HIV-1 RNA was quantitated using the NASBA assay (Organon Teknika). One ml of plasma or CVL was added to 9 ml of lysis buffer within 1 hour of collection. The assay was performed following the manufacturers protocol. Results are expressed as molecules HIV-1 RNA per ml of either plasma or CVL, the lower limit of detection is 400 molecules/ml.

RESULTS: In all 22 patients HIV-1 RNA was detectable in plasma, values ranged from 330 to 490,000 molecules/ml. Eleven of the 22 CVL specimens had detectable HIV-1 RNA, with levels ranging from 820 to 110,000 molecules/ml. (Table: see text) HIV-1 RNA was detectable in: 7/9 CVL specimens from patients with CD4 cell counts less than 200/mm³, and 4/13 CVL from patients with CD4 cell count greater than 200 mm(3).

CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 RNA was more often detectable in CVL of patients with CD4 cell counts less than 200/mm³ (7/9 vs 4/13, p=0.03). HIV-1 RNA was detected in a greater percentage of patients with plasma viral load greater than 10,000 molecules/ml (59% vs 20%); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.126).

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Seropositivity, Viral Load, HIV-1, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Self-Sustained Sequence Replication, Irrigation, Case-Control Studies, Human, Female, ICA11

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LBB6024