Evaluation of HIV-1 genital excretion in menopaused and fertile women

Abstract

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a retroviral disease caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1). The AIDS epidemics affects specially young adults, but cases involving aged people have increased, representing approximately 9% of all new infections. The AIDS has becoming more common specially in aged women, representing around 32% of all cases in this group. The heterosexual transmission accounts to 66% of all cases. It is supposed that sexual relations without condom (by no risk of pregnancy) be the main way of contamination in patients with more than fifty years. The mucosal fragility caused by estradiol level diminution during climacterium and menopause is an important factor to increase the probability of infection in aged women. Age-related mucosal thinning increases the probability of acquiring HIV infection and facilitates its sexual transmission. Sexually transmitted diseases are also related to higher HIV genital viral load. Objectives. Characterize the HIV-1 genital excretion in menopaused women comparing to fertile women through RNA HIV-1 quantitation in cervicovaginal lavage. Correlate quantitative finds with plasmatic viral load, CD4+ counting and presence of genital infection or inflammation. (AU)