Treatment of intestinal helminths does not reduce plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA in coinfected Zambian adults

Kayvon Modjarrad, Isaac Zulu, David T. Redden, Lungowe Njobvu, H. Clifford Lane, Zvi Bentwich, Sten H. Vermund

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Infection with intestinal helminths may stimulate dysfunctional immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the impact of antihelminthic treatment on plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA. Methods. We conducted a prospective study of 54 HIV-1- and helminth-coinfected and 57 HIV-1-infected, helminth-uninfected asymptomatic adults living in Lusaka, Zambia, to assess the impact of antihelminthic treatment on plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA. Results. Median baseline viral load was 0.33 log10 copies/mL lower in the helminth-infected group than in the uninfected group. Mean viral load between pretreatment and posttreatment visits increased in the helminth-infected (mean, 4.23 vs. 4.29 log10 copies/mL; P = .6) and helminth-uninfected (mean, 4.39 vs. 4.52 log10 copies/ mL; P = .2) groups. Helminth-infected participants with high pretreatment viral loads had a mean 0.25-log10 copies/mL decrease after treatment (P = .3), and helminth-uninfected participants had a mean 0.02-log10 copies/ mL decrease (P = .8). Conclusions. We did not find an overall association between treatment of intestinal helminth infections and reduction in viral load in coinfected adults. Future studies may need to focus on adults with intense helminth infections who live in rural areas or on adults or children who harbor higher helminth burdens and plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1277-1283
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume192
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Treatment of intestinal helminths does not reduce plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA in coinfected Zambian adults'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this