2023-07-27 16:34:00
HIV patients with a detectable but low viral load are not at risk of infecting their partner through sexual contact, according to a recent systematic review published in The Lancet. The study, led by Laura Broyles, was conducted partly at the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Previous assumptions suggested that HIV patients with an undetectable viral load of less than 200 copies per milliliter were unable to infect their sexual partners. However, the new study suggests that patients with a viral load of less than 1000 copies per millimeter can be considered to have no or negligible risk of transmission, as long as they continue to take their antiretroviral medication.
The research team examined eight studies on HIV transmission, involving a total of 7,762 couples. These studies included three randomized studies, four cohort studies, and one cross-sectional study. Out of the eight studies, transmission was observed in 323 primarily heterosexual couples. Interestingly, in only two cases of intra-couple transmission, the partner’s viral load was less than 1000 copies per milliliter. Additionally, there was a significant time gap of 50 days or more between the detection of the viral load and the suspected date of transmission, indicating that the viral load might have fluctuated during that period.
The findings of this review have significant implications, particularly for low- and middle-income countries where resources for measuring low viral loads may be limited. The knowledge that a low viral load poses minimal transmission risk can help shape the advice given to HIV patients in these countries.
Additionally, this study raises questions about the current guidelines and recommendations for HIV patients in the Netherlands. With the new evidence suggesting that a viral load of less than 1000 copies per milliliter does not put partners at significant risk, it may prompt a reevaluation of the advice provided to patients in the country.
Overall, this systematic review provides a positive message for individuals living with HIV and their partners by reassuring them about the minimal risk of transmission associated with a low viral load. The study’s findings have the potential to inform global HIV prevention strategies and promote a better understanding of transmission risks within the HIV community.]
#Risk #HIV #patient #partner #infected #higher #viral #load