Prevalence and Predictive Value of Intermittent Viremia With Combination HIV Therapy

Abstract

In patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), antiretroviral therapy (ART) is directed at achieving and maintaining HIV RNA levels below the limit of detection of currently approved assays.^1,2 A lower nadir of HIV RNA in response to therapy is an independent predictor of long-term virologic suppression.³ In 1 study,⁴ participants who achieved a viral load of less than 20 copies/mL had a 10-fold reduction in risk of virologic failure compared with those who did not. Once virologic suppression is achieved, sustaining suppression is critical for preventing the emergence of drug-resistant virus and subsequent virologic failure.