Detection of p24 erythrocyte associated antigen in HIV positive patients with previous undetectable plasma viral load

MARIA SOL DOS RAMOS FARÍAS; MARIA NOÉ GARCIA; NILDA SCHVACHSA; ROBERTO DANIEL RABINOVICH; MARIA MERCEDES AVILA

Sydney, Australia

Conferencia; 4th IAS Conference and 19th ASHM Conference; 2007

International AIDS Society

Objectives: Although detection of HIV-1 RNA is the “gold standard” marker for monitoring disease in patients under HAART, it remains unaffordable in poor settings and restricted to a low number of determinations. The present study is focused on the possibility to use detection of p24 antigen associated to erythrocytes (p24-E) in patients with consecutive undetectable viral load under HAART in order to reduce follow-up costs. Methods: 41 patients with undetectable viral load in plasma (pVL152 pg/ml). By comparing both groups (undetectable and detectable pVL) regarding the presence or absence of p24-E, a significant relationship between detectable pVL and the presence of p24 antigen was found in erythrocytes (Fisher exact test p=0,0000135). Conclusions: Every patient with a first detectable pVL after a period of pVL