The objective of this study is to determine if concentrations of raltegravir in semen exceed the 50% and 95% inhibitory concentrations of HIV during the dose interval.

The secondary objective is to determine the extend of raltegravir penetration into semen by obtaining semen to plasma ratios across the dosing interval, to determine the area under the concentration time curve of raltegravir in semen, and to determine the variability in the penetration of raltegravir into the seminal compartment over the dosing period.

The patient population will consist of 12 male HIV-positive patients who have been receiving stable antiretroviral therapy that includes raltegravir for a minimum of three months. Patients will be enrolled from one clinic in downtown Toronto and a hospital affiliated HIV specialty clinic in Ottawa, Ontario. Eligible patients will have evidence of full virologic suppression (HIV viral load < 50 copies/mL) at least one month prior to enrollment in the study. No changes will be made to the patients antiretroviral therapy during the course of the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• HIV infected male
• 18 years old or older
• on raltegravir twice daily as part of their antiretroviral regimen for at least 3 months prior to screening
• viral load < 50 copies/mL at least one month prior to enrolling
• able to read, understand and sign a written informed consent prior to initiation of the study
• medically stable at the time of the study, with no evidence of acute illness

Exclusion Criteria:

• having difficulty adhering to current antiretroviral therapy
• patient is expected to have difficulties adhering with study protocol
• patients with malignancy, or acute renal or liver disease
• patient with active AIDS-defining illness
• patient with any medical, psychiatric or other circumstance that may impede the provision of informed consent
• patient with any of the following abnormalities at the time of screening:
• hemoglobin < 85 g/L
• absolute neutrophil count < 1000 cells/uL
• platelet count < 50,000 cells/ microleter (uL)
• aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) or total bilirubin > 3 times the upper limit of normal
• serum creatinine > 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• patient receiving concomitant therapy with rifampin or St. John's wort

12 HIV-positive males

The median age and baseline CD4+ T-cell count of the study participants were 48 years (IQR 42-53) and 450 cells/mm3 (IQR 289-585).

collected over 1.5 years