FDG-PET imaging in HIV-infected subject: relation with therapy and immunovirological variables

Purpose: To characterise tissue sites of immune activation and HIV replication we performed FDG-PET in ART-treated and ART-naive HIV-infected individuals. Specific aims were to establish whether HIV-infected patients can be differentiated on the basis of the detection of specific locations of viral replication, even in the presence of an apparently optimal immunovirological response to ART, and whether these FDG-PET findings can be related to immunovirological variables and AIDS history status. Patients and methods: Patients were divided into five groups as follows: subgroup A1 (full responders, n∈=∈8): current ART treatment, CD4+ T lymphocytes >500/mL, viral load 50,000 copies/mL; group C (ART-naïve, n∈=∈5): no current or previous ART treatment, increased viral load. Results: PET images revealed different patterns of FDG uptake. All ART-treated patients with either suppressed (