HIV-1 DNA for the measurement of the HIV reservoir is predictive of disease progression in seroconverters whatever the mode of result expression is

Abstract Background HIV-1 DNA levels, reported as copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), are very predictive of disease progression in seroconverters, independently of CD4+ T cell count and HIV-RNA. Previously, HIV-DNA levels have sometimes been reported by other means: copies/106 CD4+ T cells, reflecting the proportion of infected cells; or copies/mL whole blood, reflecting the global blood reservoir size. Objectives We investigated if the predictive value over the natural course of the disease depends on how the results are reported. Study design Results reported as HIV-DNA copies/106 PBMC were converted to copies/106 CD4+ T cells or to copies/mL whole blood for 422 seroconverters included in the French SEROCO cohort (ANRS). Results The three methods for reporting HIV-DNA levels yielded different ranges, but these values were highly correlated. The level of HIV-DNA during the seroconversion period was strongly associated with disease progression in all three reporting methods. Conclusions This reinforces the value of HIV-DNA quantification in physiopathological and therapeutical studies, particularly in an era of research aimed at diminishing the HIV reservoir. Even if blood represents a small part of this reservoir, HIV-DNA in blood is a simple marker that provides an informative picture of the global reservoir and is strongly predictive of disease progression.