Frequency of Cytomegalovirus Viral Load in Iranian Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected Patients with CD4+ Counts <100 Cells/mm3

Abstract

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of present work was to assess cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in Iranian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients with a CD4+ count &#x3c;100 cells/mm³ and to explore whether CMV DNA loads correlate with CD4+ cell counts or associated retinitis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study was conducted at the AIDS research center in Iran on HIV-1-infected patients with CD4+ count &#x3c;100 cells/mm³, antiretroviral therapy-naive, aged ≥18 years with no previous history of CMV end-organ disease (CMV-EOD). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirty-nine of 82 patients (47.56%) had detectable CMV viral load ranging from 66 to 485,500 IU/mL. CMV viral load in patients with retinitis ranges from 352 to 2,720 IU/mL, and it was undetectable in 2 patients. No significant associations between CMV viremia and CD4+ cell count was found (<i>p</i> value = 0.31), whereas significant association of CMV viremia in HIV-infected patients with retinitis was found (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.02). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> We estimated the frequency of CMV viral load infection in Iranian HIV-1-infected patients with a CD4+ cell count &#x3c;100 mm³/mL in the largest national referral center for HIV-1 infection in Iran. Further research is required on the relevance of CMV viral load in diagnostic and prognostic value of CMV-EOD.