Human Immunodeficiency Virus Viral Load Suppression Research Articles

Randomized clinical trial of cognitive behavioral stress management on human immunodeficiency virus viral load in gay men treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive individuals treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may experience psychological burdens and negative mood states, which could impair their ability to derive maximum benefits from their medical treatment. We tested whether a cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention in combination with antiretroviral medication adherence training (MAT) from a clinical pharmacist influences HIV viral load more than MAT alone. HIV-positive men who have sex with men were randomized to either a 10-week CBSM + MAT intervention (n = 76) or a MAT-Only condition (n = 54). Data were collected at baseline immediately following the 10-week intervention period, at 9 months postrandomization, and at 15 months postrandomization. We found no differences in HIV viral load among the 130 men randomized. However, in the 101 men with detectable viral load at baseline, those randomized to CBSM + MAT (n = 61) displayed reductions of 0.56 log10 units in HIV viral load over a 15-month period after controlling for medication adherence. Men in the MAT-Only condition (n = 40) showed no change. Decreases in depressed mood during the intervention period explained the effect of CBSM + MAT on HIV viral load reduction over the 15 months. A time-limited CBSM + MAT intervention that modulates depressed mood may enhance the effects of HAART on suppression of HIV viral load in HIV+ men with detectable plasma levels.

Cervical human papillomavirus infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women positive for human immunodeficiency virus in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer. Women who are positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been shown to be at increased risk for cervicovaginal HPV infection and CIN, and cervical cancer is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies of cervical HPV infection and CIN in HIV-positive women and to describe the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the course of CIN. HIV-positive women have a higher prevalence of cervical HPV infection than HIV-negative women, and HPV infection is more persistent in the HIV-positive population. The incidence of high-grade CIN is increased in HIV-positive women. HAART has not been shown to affect HPV detection, and data on its effect on the natural history of CIN are mixed. Some studies show no effect of HAART on the natural history of CIN, and others show a statistically significant but modest beneficial effect. Cervical HPV infection and CIN are clearly increased in HIV-positive women when compared with risk-matched HIV-negative women. HAART appears to have limited ability to clear HPV infection and induce regression of CIN in HIV-positive women. Combined with the high prevalence of cervical HPV infection and CIN, current data suggest that CIN should be aggressively sought and treated in HIV-positive women, including those who have responded well to HAART with good HIV viral load suppression and increasing CD4+ levels.