Intermittent human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV-1) shedding in semen and efficiency of sperm processing despite high seminal HIV-1 RNA levels

Objective: To study seminal excretion of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during 4 years of follow-up in an HIV-1-infected patient, the relationship between high viral excretion and inflammatory status of semen, and the efficiency of sperm processing methods in obtaining spermatozoa with undetectable RNA and proviral DNA levels. Design: Case report. Setting: University hospital and research group on human fertility. Patient(s): One HIV-1-infected patient. Intervention(s): Paired blood and semen samples were obtained during 4 years of follow-up. Main Outcome Measure(s): CD4 cell count; blood and seminal plasma viral load; and HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA in different cell fractions obtained during sperm processing, as measured by the density gradient method and the swim-up method; sperm parameters; and polymorphonuclear granulocyte count. Result(s): Shedding of HIV-1 in semen was intermittent. The highest seminal viral loads were associated with a markedly increased polymorphonuclear granulocyte count, which reflects inflammation of the genital tract. Spermatozoa with undetectable levels of HIV-1 RNA or DNA were obtained regardless of the viral load in semen. Conclusion(s): In an HIV-1-infected man with intermittent seminal viral excretion, sperm processing was effective in obtaining spermatozoa without detectable HIV-1 genomes.