Abstract
Objectives: Conflicting results have been reported regarding the ability of valproic acid (VPA) to reduce the size of HIV reservoirs in patients receiving suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In a randomized multicentre, cross-over study, we assessed whether adding VPA to stable HAART could potentially reduce the size of the latent viral reservoir in CD4 T cells of chronically infected patients. Methods: A total of 56 virologically suppressed patients were randomly assigned either to receive VPA plus HAART for 16 weeks followed by HAART alone for 32 weeks (arm 1; n=27) or to receive HAART alone for 16 weeks and then VPA plus HAART for 32 weeks (arm 2; n=29). VPA was administered at a dose of 500mg twice a day (bid) and was adjusted to the therapeutic range. A quantitative culture assay was used to assess HIV reservoirs in CD4 T cells at baseline and at weeks 16 and 48. Results: No significant reductions in the frequency of CD4 T cells harbouring replication-competent HIV after 16 and 32 weeks of VPA therapy were observed. In arm 1, median (range) values of IU per log 10 billion (IUPB) cells were 2.55 (range 1.20-4.20), 1.80 (range 1.0-4.70) and 2.70 (range 1.0-3.90; P=0.87) for baseline, week 16 and week 48, respectively. In arm 2, median values of IUPB were 2.55 (range 1.20-4.65), 1.64 (range 1.0-3.94) and 2.51 (range 1.0-4.48; P=0.50) for baseline, week 16 and week 48, respectively. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that adding VPA to stable HAART does not reduce the latent HIV reservoir in virally suppressed patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 291-296 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | HIV Medicine |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CD4 T cells
- HIV
- Highly active antiretroviral therapy
- Reservoir
- Valproic acid
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Policy
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology (medical)