Sex-Associated Differences in Pre-Antiretroviral Therapy Plasma HIV-1 RNA in Diverse Areas of the World Vary by CD4⁺ T-Cell Count

Abstract

Women in resource-limited settings have lower levels of plasma HIV-1 RNA and appear to present for enrolment into clinical trials at an earlier stage of disease than men. The biological basis for lower viral load in women compared to men remains unexplained. It will be important to determine if the sex differences observed at baseline impact clinical outcomes once the PEARLS clinical trial is completed.