Lack of correlation between the size of HIV proviral DNA reservoir and the level of immune activation in HIV-infected patients with a sustained undetectable HIV viral load for 10 years

Abstract Background The persistence of HIV residual replication in patients with an undetectable plasma viral load (pVL) may limit immune recovery and facilitate inflammation-induced comorbidities. Objective The objective was to evaluate any correlation between immune restoration and intracellular [IC] HIV-DNA in cART-treated patients with a sustained undetectable pVL. Study design This retrospective cross sectional study included 62 patients with a median duration of undetectable pVL of 10.3 years. IC HIV DNA in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) and T cell subsets were measured at the last visit. pVL, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were retrospectively collected from the onset of long-term inhibition by antiretroviral treatment. The patients were separated into two groups: 27 non-blippers (sustained pVL < threshold value during all the visits) and 35 blippers (≥1 episodes of pVL > threshold but