Failure to eradicate HIV despite fully successful HAART initiated in the first days of life

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) started shortly after birth resulted in reversion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) plasma viremia, proviral DNA in PBMC, viral culture, and serum HIV antibodies to negative. Discontinuation of HAART 2 years after apparent HIV eradication, however, was followed by virus replication, CD4 decline, and destruction of HIV-specific lymphocytes, epitomizing the impossibility of HIV eradication.

Expression of the Mu Opioid Receptor in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transgenic Rat Model

“…Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) consists of inhibitors that target viral entry, reverse transcriptase, and viral protease to control viral replication, restore immunity, and delay disease progression, but it cannot eliminate the infection (1,25,47). The clinical challenge in this post-HAART era is, therefore, the persistent infection that results from the presence of HIV-1 viral proteins in the host (25,47).…”

“…The clinical challenge in this post-HAART era is, therefore, the persistent infection that results from the presence of HIV-1 viral proteins in the host (25,47). The development of various manifestations of human HIV-1 infection in the HIV-1Tg rat, without viral replication, indicates that the FIG.…”

Role of HIV-1 Infection in Addictive Behavior: A Study of a HIV-1 Transgenic Rat Model

“…The therapy consists of inhibitors that target viral entry, reverse transcriptase and viral protease to control viral replication, restore immunity and delay disease progression. However, it cannot eliminate infection [10][11][12][13][14] . Although the incidence of AIDS and mortality has declined and AIDS is no longer a rapidly fatal disease, the current clinical challenge is that HIV infection is now a chronic disease and the hosts are in the course of continuous infection [14][15][16] .…”

“…However, it cannot eliminate infection [10][11][12][13][14] . Although the incidence of AIDS and mortality has declined and AIDS is no longer a rapidly fatal disease, the current clinical challenge is that HIV infection is now a chronic disease and the hosts are in the course of continuous infection [14][15][16] . The prolongation of life and continuity of HIV infection have resulted in a corresponding increase in health problems including age-related conditions and HIVrelated neurological and neuropsychological complications.…”

“…HAART suppresses the growth of HIV-1 but does not eliminate HIV-1 infection [10][11][12][13][14] . The clinical challenge in this post-HAART era is, therefore, the persistent infection that results from the presence of HIV viral proteins in the host [14,17,16,50] . The HIV Tg rat model carries a gag-pol-deleted HIV-1 genome under the control of the HIV-1 viral promoter and expresses 7 of the 9 HIV genes [51] .…”