Brief Report: Association Between Low HIV-1 DNA and Western Blot Reactivity to HIV-1 Pol in Chronically Infected Individuals

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether negative HIV-1 pol on Western blot (WB) was associated with low HIV-DNA in adults with chronic HIV-1 infection and suppressive antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: Cross-sectional parent study of the APACHE trial, conducted in subjects with chronic infection, HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL for ≥10 years, no residual viremia for ≥5 years and CD4 >500 cells/µL screened for HIV-1 DNA. HIV-1 DNA was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by real-time polymerase chain reaction and HIV-1 serostatus was tested by HIV Blot 2.2 WB assay. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with low HIV-1 DNA. RESULTS: We evaluated 96 patients: 78 (81%) and 18 (19%) subjects with HIV-1 DNA ≥100 copies/10 PBMCs and with HIV-1 DNA <100 copies/10 PBMCs, respectively. Median age was 32.5 (25.3-38.9), and 61 (64%) were men; moreover, we reported that nadir CD4 was 253 (167-339) cells/µL and HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL for 11.7 (10.6-14.0) years. At multivariate analysis, higher nadir CD4 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35 (95% CI: 1.03 to 1.76), P = 0.029], longer years of HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL [AOR (95% CI) 2.98 (95% CI: 1.25 to 7.10), P = 0.014], a R5-tropic virus [AOR (R5 vs. non-R5) 0.20 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.96), P = 0.044], and negative HIV-1 pol [AOR 6.59 (95% CI: 1.47 to 29.54), P = 0.014] were associated with low HIV-1 DNA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic HIV-1 infection and suppressive antiretroviral therapy, negative HIV-1 pol on WB was associated with low HIV-1 DNA as well as higher nadir CD4, longer years of HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL, and a R5-tropic virus.