HIV Antibody Increases Following Viral Rebound in People Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

Inclusion criteria

• HIV-positive individuals aged 15 or older at the time of ART initiation.
• Participated in HIV plasma or serum biobanking and viral load testing, with three samples after January 1, 2015 as follows:

• T1 specimen with suppressed VL and sufficient sample to conduct antibody testing.
• T2 specimen collected 1-13 months after T1, with: Cases: unsuppressed VL; Controls: suppressed VL.
• T3 specimen collected 1-13 months after T2, with sufficient sample to conduct antibody testing.
• At least one VL measurement recorded prior to T1, with:

• All VL measurements made in the year prior to T1 showing suppressed VL.
• If no VL measurements were made in the year prior to T1, the most recent VL measurement made prior to T1 showing suppressed VL.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with advanced HIV disease from 1 year prior to T1 until T3, defined as:

• CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm3.
• Any AIDS-defining illnesses.
• Individuals with severe illness or hospitalization from 1 year prior to T1 until T3.
• Individuals with immune disorder or cancer diagnosis from 1 year prior to T1 until T3.
• Individuals with known recent infection at time of ART initiation (ART initiated within 1 year of estimated date of detectable infection).
• Individuals known to have been infected with HIV perinatally.