Biphasic decay of cell-associated HIV-1 DNA in HIV-1-infected children on antiretroviral therapy

Cell-associated HIV-1 DNA was quantified in 33 HIV-1-infected children followed for 96 weeks after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. HIV-1 DNA decay was biphasic, being 10-fold more rapid during the first 4 weeks, and was inversely associated with the baseline plasma HIV-1-RNA level, but unrelated to HIV-1-RNA suppression. HIV-1 DNA decay per absolute CD4 cell number was lower than per 10⁶ CD4 cells, suggesting an ongoing infection of newly produced CD4 cells, despite HIV-1 suppression in plasma.