Association between symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis and HIV RNA levels in plasma and genital secretions among women on HAART

• Published in: Southern African journal of HIV medicine 2014-06, Vol.15 (2), p.57-64
• Main Authors: Apalata, Teke, Carr, William Henry, Longo-Mbenza, Benjamin, Sturm, Willem Adrian, Moodley, Prashini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiretroviral drugs; Biology; Candidiasis; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Care and treatment; CD4 antigen; Cell culture; Diagnosis; Disease management; Disease transmission; excess risk; Genetic aspects; Genital tract; Health aspects; Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV (Viruses); HIV RNA; Immunology; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); lower genital tract; Medical records; Methods; Plasma; PMN cells; Polymerase chain reaction; Reverse transcription; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Secretions; symptomatic VVC
• ISSN: 1608-9693; 2078-6751; 2078-6751
• DOI: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v15i2.21

Background. Genital tract (GT) inflammation plays a major role in HIV transmission. We aimed to determine the association between symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and HIV RNA levels in plasma and GTs of HIV-infected women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Method. Women with VVC on HAART were recruited from a primary healthcare clinic in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, between June 2011 and December 2011. VVC was diagnosed clinically, supported by Gram staining and culture of genital secretions. HIV RNA load was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. CD4+ counts were obtained from patients’ medical records.Results. Plasma HIV RNA was detected in 42 of 60 (70%) patients on HAART. The mean duration (± standard deviation) on HAART for these patients was 4.2 (±1.6) months v. 10.7 (±1.4) months for the remaining 18 patients (p