HIV Type 1 RNA Level as a Clinical Indicator of Renal Pathology in HIV-Infected Patients

To determine the value of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA level in distinguishing HIV-associated nephropathy from non–HIV-associated nephropathy renal pathological conditions, we retrospectively compared renal histopathological findings for 86 HIV-infected patients according to HIV-1 RNA levels. We found that HIV-associated nephropathy was unlikely among patients with HIV-1 RNA levels