Abstract
To assess the correlation between HIV-1 RNA load in blood and semen by antiretroviral therapy status and the relative penetration of antiretroviral drugs in seminal plasma. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study of 119 HIV-1 subjects divided into three groups according to treatment status. Blood and semen were collected concurrently. Seminal viral load determined by NucliSens® HIV-1 QT PCR (BioMerieux). Viral suppression over time was assessed in a second semen sample collected from 10 treated subjects. Antietroviral plasma concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography and recovery experiments were performed on semen samples to validate quantitation in this matrix. All subjects taking non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (n = 36, mean treatment 33 months ± 14) or protease inhibitors (n = 45, mean treatment 31 months ± 25) had blood viral load < 50 copies/mL and seminal viral load < 250 copies/mL. In untreated subjects (n = 38), blood and semen viral loads were positively correlated (Spearmans p = 0.489, p = 0.002). Blood and semen nevirapine concentrations were positively correlated (r2 = 0.795, p = 0.005) and therapeutic concentrations achieved in both compartments. Lopinavir and atazanavir also penetrated semen but efavirenz did not. We find that there is compartmentalisation of HIV-1 within the male genital tract and propose that new infections may originate from untreated men and that suppressive antiretroviral regimens may reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1, semen, sexual transmission, viral load
Current HIV Research
Title: Correlation Between HIV-1 RNA Load in Blood and Seminal Plasma Depending on Antiretroviral Treatment Status, Regimen and Penetration of Semen by Antiretroviral Drugs§
Volume: 6 Issue: 5
Author(s): Derek J. Chan, John E. Ray, Leon McNally, Marijka Batterham and Don E. Smith
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1, semen, sexual transmission, viral load
Abstract: To assess the correlation between HIV-1 RNA load in blood and semen by antiretroviral therapy status and the relative penetration of antiretroviral drugs in seminal plasma. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study of 119 HIV-1 subjects divided into three groups according to treatment status. Blood and semen were collected concurrently. Seminal viral load determined by NucliSens® HIV-1 QT PCR (BioMerieux). Viral suppression over time was assessed in a second semen sample collected from 10 treated subjects. Antietroviral plasma concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography and recovery experiments were performed on semen samples to validate quantitation in this matrix. All subjects taking non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (n = 36, mean treatment 33 months ± 14) or protease inhibitors (n = 45, mean treatment 31 months ± 25) had blood viral load < 50 copies/mL and seminal viral load < 250 copies/mL. In untreated subjects (n = 38), blood and semen viral loads were positively correlated (Spearmans p = 0.489, p = 0.002). Blood and semen nevirapine concentrations were positively correlated (r2 = 0.795, p = 0.005) and therapeutic concentrations achieved in both compartments. Lopinavir and atazanavir also penetrated semen but efavirenz did not. We find that there is compartmentalisation of HIV-1 within the male genital tract and propose that new infections may originate from untreated men and that suppressive antiretroviral regimens may reduce the risk of sexual transmission.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Chan J. Derek, Ray E. John, McNally Leon, Batterham Marijka and Smith E. Don, Correlation Between HIV-1 RNA Load in Blood and Seminal Plasma Depending on Antiretroviral Treatment Status, Regimen and Penetration of Semen by Antiretroviral Drugs§, Current HIV Research 2008; 6 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016208785861177
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016208785861177 |
Print ISSN 1570-162X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4251 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Cell Adhesion Molecules in Gene and Cell Therapy Approaches for Nervous System Repair
Current Gene Therapy Recent Advances in Characterizing Natural Products that Regulate Autophagy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Energy Balance and Carcinogenesis: Underlying Pathways and Targets for Intervention
Current Cancer Drug Targets The Hellp Syndrome: A Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) as Immune Regulator
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Thrombotic Microangiopathies: Towards a Pathophysiology-Based Classification
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Thirty Years of Polyamine-Related Approaches to Cancer Therapy. Retrospect and Prospect. Part 2. Structural Analogues and Derivatives
Current Drug Targets Therapeutic Options in Prevention and Treatment of Aspartoacylase Gene Mutation Resulting Abnormalities in Canavan Disease
Current Pharmacogenomics Immunotherapy in a Natural Model of Aβ Pathogenesis: The Aging Beagle
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Evaluation on Monocyte-Mediated Delivery of a Therapeutic Gene into the Inflamed Brain
Current Gene Therapy Meningitis Due to Cryptococcus neoformans: Treatment with Posaconazole
Current HIV Research On the Origin of Epidermal Cancers
Current Molecular Medicine Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Bergenin - A Biologically Active Scaffold: Nanotechnological Perspectives
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry A Review of Sodium Oxybate and Baclofen in the Treatment of Sleep Disorders
Current Pharmaceutical Design Immunosuppressive Treatments in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Brain Arrhythmias Induced by Amyloid Beta and Inflammation: Involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Inflammation-related Pathologies
Current Alzheimer Research Convection Enhanced Delivery of Macromolecules for Brain Tumors
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Nanotechnology on Duty in Medical Applications
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Psychosocial Risk Factors Related to Ischemic Heart Disease in Women
Current Pharmaceutical Design