INSTI-Based Triple Regimens in Treatment-Naïve HIV-Infected Patients Are Associated With HIV-RNA Viral Load Suppression at Ultralow Levels.

backgroundDuring antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1-infected patients may present with ultralow (UL) HIV-RNA viral loads (VLs) below quantification levels of current assays. Reasons for UL-VL detection and its relation to virological rebound (VR) are unclear.

methodsHIV-1-infected, ART-naïve patients followed at 2 university hospitals were included. All participants had an HIV-RNA >200 copies/mL at ART initiation and achieved a VL <50 copies/mL during ART. UL-VL was determined by the presence/absence of polymerase chain reaction signal detected using a commercially available assay (COBAS, TaqMan, Roche). Random-effects Poisson regression was used for assessing determinants of UL-VL not detected overtime and conditional risk set analysis for VR (1 VL > 200 copies/mL or 2 VL > 50 copies/mL) while accounting for frequency of VL measurements.

resultsBetween 2009 and 2013, 717 patients initiated ART containing 2 nucleos(-t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus a non-NRTI (29.4%), a protease inhibitor (58.4%), or an integrase-strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI; 12.1%). During a median (interquartile range) 3.4 (2.3-4.6) years, 676 (94.3%) patients achieved UL-VL not detected. In multivariable analysis, UL-VL not detected overtime was associated with younger age (

conclusionsVL suppression at an ultralow level is associated with INSTI-class ART initiation. Extensive VL suppression below ultralow detection could improve immune reconstitution.