Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 83 in total

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  1. Abiola, Abdulrahman Surajudeen, Lekhraj Rampal, Norlijah Othman, Faisal Ibrahim, Hayati Kadir@Shahar, Anuradha P. Radhakrishnan
    MyJurnal
    Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents disease progression, and the emergence of resistant mutations. It also reduces morbidity, and the necessity for more frequent, complicated regimens which are also relatively more expensive. Minimum adherence levels of 95% are required for treatment success. Poor adherence to treatment remains a stumbling block to the success of treatment programs. This generates major concerns about possible resistance of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the currently available ARVs. This paper aims to describe baseline results from a cohort of 242 Malaysian patients receiving ART within the context of an intervention aimed to improve adherence and treatment outcomes among patients initiating ART. A single-blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial was conducted between January and December, 2014 in Hospital Sungai Buloh. Data on socio-demographic factors, clinical symptoms and adherence behavior of respondents was collected using modified, pre-validated Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG) adherence questionnaires. Baseline CD4 count, viral load, weight, full blood count, blood pressure, Liver function and renal profile tests were also conducted and recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and R software. Patients consisted of 215 (89%) males and 27 (11%) females. 117 (48%) were Malays, 98 (40%) were Chinese, 22 (9%) were Indians while 5 (2%) were of other ethnic minorities. The mean age for the intervention group was 32.1 ± 8.7 years while the mean age for the control group was 34.7 ± 9.5 years. Mean baseline adherence was 80.1 ± 19.6 and 85.1 ± 15.8 for the intervention and control groups respectively. Overall mean baseline CD4 count of patients was 222.97 ± 143.7 cells/mm³ while overall mean viral load was 255237.85 ± 470618.9. Patients had a mean weight of 61.55 ± 11.0 kg and 61.47 ± 12.3 kg in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Males account for about 90% of those initiating ART in the HIV clinic, at a relatively low CD4 count, high viral load and sub-optimal medication adherence levels at baseline.
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  2. Ahn JY, Boettiger D, Law M, Kumarasamy N, Yunihastuti E, Chaiwarith R, et al.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2015 Jul 01;69(3):e85-92.
    PMID: 25850606 DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000634
    BACKGROUND: Current treatment guidelines for HIV infection recommend routine CD4 lymphocyte (CD4) count monitoring in patients with viral suppression. This may have a limited impact on influencing care as clinically meaningful CD4 decline rarely occurs during viral suppression.

    METHODS: In a regional HIV observational cohort in the Asia-Pacific region, patients with viral suppression (2 consecutive viral loads <400 copies/mL) and a CD4 count ≥200 cells per microliter who had CD4 testing 6 monthly were analyzed. Main study end points were occurrence of 1 CD4 count <200 cells per microliter (single CD4 <200) and 2 CD4 counts <200 cells per microliter within a 6-month period (confirmed CD4 <200). A comparison of time with single and confirmed CD4 <200 with biannual or annual CD4 assessment was performed by generating a hypothetical group comprising the same patients with annual CD4 testing by removing every second CD4 count.

    RESULTS: Among 1538 patients, the rate of single CD4 <200 was 3.45/100 patient-years and of confirmed CD4 <200 was 0.77/100 patient-years. During 5 years of viral suppression, patients with baseline CD4 200-249 cells per microliter were significantly more likely to experience confirmed CD4 <200 compared with patients with higher baseline CD4 [hazard ratio, 55.47 (95% confidence interval: 7.36 to 418.20), P < 0.001 versus baseline CD4 ≥500 cells/μL]. Cumulative probabilities of confirmed CD4 <200 was also higher in patients with baseline CD4 200-249 cells per microliter compared with patients with higher baseline CD4. There was no significant difference in time to confirmed CD4 <200 between biannual and annual CD4 measurement (P = 0.336).

    CONCLUSIONS: Annual CD4 monitoring in virally suppressed HIV patients with a baseline CD4 ≥250 cells per microliter may be sufficient for clinical management.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  3. Ahn MY, Jiamsakul A, Khusuwan S, Khol V, Pham TT, Chaiwarith R, et al.
    J Int AIDS Soc, 2019 02;22(2):e25228.
    PMID: 30803162 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25228
    INTRODUCTION: Multiple comorbidities among HIV-positive individuals may increase the potential for polypharmacy causing drug-to-drug interactions and older individuals with comorbidities, particularly those with cognitive impairment, may have difficulty in adhering to complex medications. However, the effects of age-associated comorbidities on the treatment outcomes of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are not well known. In this study, we investigated the effects of age-associated comorbidities on therapeutic outcomes of cART in HIV-positive adults in Asian countries.

    METHODS: Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database cohort and on cART for more than six months were analysed. Comorbidities included hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and impaired renal function. Treatment outcomes of patients ≥50 years of age with comorbidities were compared with those <50 years and those ≥50 years without comorbidities. We analysed 5411 patients with virological failure and 5621 with immunologic failure. Our failure outcomes were defined to be in-line with the World Health Organization 2016 guidelines. Cox regression analysis was used to analyse time to first virological and immunological failure.

    RESULTS: The incidence of virologic failure was 7.72/100 person-years. Virological failure was less likely in patients with better adherence and higher CD4 count at cART initiation. Those acquiring HIV through intravenous drug use were more likely to have virological failure compared to those infected through heterosexual contact. On univariate analysis, patients aged <50 years without comorbidities were more likely to experience virological failure than those aged ≥50 years with comorbidities (hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31 to 2.33, p CD4 response.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  4. Al-Darraji HA, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL
    BMC Public Health, 2014 Jan 10;14:22.
    PMID: 24405607 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-22
    Prisons continue to fuel tuberculosis (TB) epidemics particularly in settings where access to TB screening and prevention services is limited. Malaysia is a middle-income country with a relatively high incarceration rate of 138 per 100,000 population. Despite national TB incidence rate remaining unchanged over the past ten years, data about TB in prisons and its contribution to the overall national rates does not exist. This survey was conducted to address the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in Malaysia's largest prison.
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  5. Asmal HS, Mustafa M, Abdullah S, Zaidah AR, Nurhaslindawati AR, Sarimah A, et al.
    PMID: 20578464
    Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) has become the most common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients with a CD4 count < or = 200. The incidence of PCP has declined as a result of prophylaxis and better highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The objective of this study was to review the demographic data of HIV patients diagnosed clinically as having PCP at the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ II) in Malaysia. This was a prospective study. All HIV patients admitted to HRPZ II with respiratory symptoms were enrolled in this study after giving informed consent. Their demographic data were collected. The total number of HIV patients reviewed in this study was 107. Nearly 60% of patients were clinically diagnosed as having pneumocystis pneumonia based on their signs, symptoms and chest x-ray findings. A CD4 count was available in 83 out of 107 patients. The fifty-three percent of patients(44) had a CD4 < 200 and were clinically diagnosed as having pneumocystis pneumonia. Thirty percent had a CD4 < 200 but did not have clinical pneumocystis pneumonia. Sixteen point nine percent had a CD4 > 200 and had clinical pneumocystis pneumonia, three of whom had received HAART, four patients had received prophylaxis. Overall, 94 patients (87.8%) received prophylaxis for pneumocystis pneumonia. Thirty-three patients (30.8%) received HAART. The occurrence of pneumocystis pneumonia was common before full implementation of HAART. Pneumocystis pneumonia can occur in patients with a CD4 >200.
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  6. Balakrishnan P, Saravanan S, Vignesh R, Shankar EM
    Indian J Med Res, 2023 Nov 01;158(5&6):447-450.
    PMID: 38063301 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1616_23
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  7. Bartlett AW, Lumbiganon P, Kurniati N, Sudjaritruk T, Mohamed TJ, Hansudewechakul R, et al.
    J Adolesc Health, 2019 11;65(5):651-659.
    PMID: 31395514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.05.025
    PURPOSE: Antiretroviral monotherapy and treatment interruption are potential strategies for perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) who face challenges maintaining effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the use and outcomes for adolescents receiving monotherapy or undergoing treatment interruption in a regional Asian cohort.

    METHODS: Regional Asian data (2001-2016) were analyzed to describe PHIVA who experienced ≥2 weeks of lamivudine or emtricitabine monotherapy or treatment interruption and trends in CD4 count and HIV viral load during and after episodes. Survival analyses were used for World Health Organization (WHO) stage III/IV clinical and immunologic event-free survival during monotherapy or treatment interruption, and a Poisson regression to determine factors associated with monotherapy or treatment interruption.

    RESULTS: Of 3,448 PHIVA, 84 (2.4%) experienced 94 monotherapy episodes, and 147 (4.3%) experienced 174 treatment interruptions. Monotherapy was associated with older age, HIV RNA >400 copies/mL, younger age at ART initiation, and exposure to ≥2 combination ART regimens. Treatment interruption was associated with CD4 count <350 cells/μL, HIV RNA ≥1,000 copies/mL, ART adverse event, and commencing ART age ≥10 years compared with age <3 years. WHO clinical stage III/IV 1-year event-free survival was 96% and 85% for monotherapy and treatment interruption cohorts, respectively. WHO immunologic stage III/IV 1-year event-free survival was 52% for both cohorts. Those who experienced monotherapy or treatment interruption for more than 6 months had worse immunologic and virologic outcomes.

    CONCLUSIONS: Until challenges of treatment adherence, engagement in care, and combination ART durability/tolerability are met, monotherapy and treatment interruption will lead to poor long-term outcomes.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  8. Bartlett AW, Truong KH, Songtaweesin WN, Chokephaibulkit K, Hansudewechakul R, Ly PS, et al.
    AIDS, 2018 07 31;32(12):1689-1697.
    PMID: 29794827 DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001883
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVAs), factors associated with mortality, and outcomes at transition.

    DESIGN: Ongoing observational database collating clinical data on HIV-infected children and adolescents in Asia.

    METHODS: Data from 2001 to 2016 relating to adolescents (10-19 years) with perinatal HIV infection were analysed to describe characteristics at adolescent entry and transition and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens across adolescence. A competing risk regression analysis was used to determine characteristics at adolescent entry associated with mortality. Outcomes at transition were compared on the basis of age at cART initiation.

    RESULTS: Of 3448 PHIVA, 644 had reached transition. Median age at HIV diagnosis was 5.5 years, cART initiation 7.2 years and transition 17.9 years. At adolescent entry, 35.0% had CD4+ cell count less than 500 cells/μl and 51.1% had experienced a WHO stage III/IV clinical event. At transition, 38.9% had CD4+ cell count less than 500 copies/ml, and 53.4% had experienced a WHO stage III/IV clinical event. Mortality rate was 0.71 per 100 person-years, with HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/ml, CD4+ cell count less than 500 cells/μl, height-for-age or weight-for-age z-score less than -2, history of a WHO stage III/IV clinical event or hospitalization and at least second cART associated with mortality. For transitioning PHIVA, those who commenced cART age less than 5 years had better virologic and immunologic outcomes, though were more likely to be on at least second cART.

    CONCLUSION: Delayed HIV diagnosis and cART initiation resulted in considerable morbidity and poor immune status by adolescent entry. Durable first-line cART regimens to optimize disease control are key to minimizing mortality. Early cART initiation provides the best virologic and immunologic outcomes at transition.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  9. Boettiger DC, Sudjaritruk T, Nallusamy R, Lumbiganon P, Rungmaitree S, Hansudewechakul R, et al.
    J Adolesc Health, 2016 Apr;58(4):451-459.
    PMID: 26803201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.11.006
    PURPOSE: About a third of untreated, perinatally HIV-infected children reach adolescence. We evaluated the durability and effectiveness of non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in this population.

    METHODS: Data from perinatally HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naïve patients initiated on NNRTI-based ART aged 10-19 years who had ≥6 months of follow-up were analyzed. Competing risk regression was used to assess predictors of NNRTI substitution and clinical failure (World Health Organization Stage 3/4 event or death). Viral suppression was defined as a viral load <400 copies/mL.

    RESULTS: Data from 534 adolescents met our inclusion criteria (56.2% female; median age at treatment initiation 11.8 years). After 5 years of treatment, median height-for-age z score increased from -2.3 to -1.6, and median CD4+ cell count increased from 131 to 580 cells/mm(3). The proportion of patients with viral suppression after 6 months was 87.6% and remained >80% up to 5 years of follow-up. NNRTI substitution and clinical failure occurred at rates of 4.9 and 1.4 events per 100 patient-years, respectively. Not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at ART initiation was associated with NNRTI substitution (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5 vs. using; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-2.2; p = .05). Baseline CD4+ count ≤200 cells/mm(3) (HR, 3.3 vs. >200; 95% CI = 1.2-8.9; p = .02) and not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at ART initiation (HR, 2.1 vs. using; 95% CI = 1.0-4.6; p = .05) were both associated with clinical failure.

    CONCLUSIONS: Despite late ART initiation, adolescents achieved good rates of catch-up growth, CD4+ count recovery, and virological suppression. Earlier ART initiation and routine cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in this population may help to reduce current rates of NNRTI substitution and clinical failure.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  10. Boettiger DC, An VT, Kumarasamy N, Azwa I, Sudjaritruk T, Truong KH, et al.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2022 Jun 01;90(2):193-200.
    PMID: 35125475 DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002931
    OBJECTIVE: To assess recent trends in the monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and detection of ART failure in adult and pediatric HIV clinics.

    METHODS: We used data collected from 21 adult and 17 pediatric sites (across 13 and 6 countries/territories, respectively) in the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS - Asia-Pacific cohort. ART failure was defined as viral, immune, or clinical consistent with WHO guidelines.

    RESULTS: A total of 8567 adults and 6149 children contributed data. Frequency of CD4 count monitoring declined between 2010 and 2019 among adult sites (from 1.93 to 1.06 tests/person per year, a 45.1% decline) and pediatric sites (from 2.16 to 0.86 testsperson per year, a 60.2% decline), whereas rates of viral load monitoring remained relatively stable. The proportion of adult and pediatric treatment failure detected as immune failure declined (from 73.4% to 50.0% and from 45.8% to 23.1%, respectively), whereas the proportion of failure detected as viral failure increased (from 7.8% to 25.0% and from 45.8% to 76.9%, respectively). The proportion of ART failure detected as clinical failure remained stable among adult and pediatric sites. The largest shifts in ART monitoring and failure type occurred in lower middle-income countries.

    CONCLUSIONS: Although viral failure in our Asian cohort now comprises a larger portion of ART failure than in prior years, the diagnostic characteristics of immune and clinical failure, and recommendations on their management, remain important inclusions for regional ART guidelines.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  11. Boettiger DC, An VT, Lumbiganon P, Wittawatmongkol O, Huu Truong K, Chau Do V, et al.
    Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2022 May 01;41(5):e208-e215.
    PMID: 35185140 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003494
    BACKGROUND: Bacterial pneumonia imparts a major morbidity and mortality burden on children living with HIV, yet effective prevention and treatment options are underutilized. We explored clinical factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia among children living with HIV.

    METHODS: Children enrolled in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database were included if they started antiretroviral therapy (ART) on or after January 1st, 2008. Factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were assessed using competing-risk regression.

    RESULTS: A total of 3,944 children were included in the analysis; 136 cases of severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were reported at a rate of 6.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.5-7.7] events per 1,000 patient-years. Clinical factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were younger age [adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (aHR): 4.4 for <5 years versus ≥10 years, 95% CI: 2.2-8.4, P < 0.001], lower weight-for-age z-score (aHR: 1.5 for -2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3, P = 0.024), pre-ART diagnosis of severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia (aHR: 4.0 versus no pre-ART diagnosis, 95% CI: 2.7-5.8, P < 0.001), past diagnosis of symptomatic lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis or chronic HIV-associated lung disease, including bronchiectasis (aHR: 4.8 versus no past diagnosis, 95% CI: 2.8-8.4, P < 0.001), low CD4% (aHR: 3.5 for <10% versus ≥25%, 95% CI: 1.9-6.4, P < 0.001) and detectable HIV viral load (aHR: 2.6 versus undetectable, 95% CI: 1.2-5.9, P = 0.018).

    CONCLUSIONS: Children <10-years-old and those with low weight-for-age, a history of respiratory illness, low CD4% or poorly controlled HIV are likely to gain the greatest benefit from targeted prevention and treatment programs to reduce the burden of bacterial pneumonia in children living with HIV.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  12. Boettiger DC, Nguyen VK, Durier N, Bui HV, Heng Sim BL, Azwa I, et al.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2015 Feb 01;68(2):186-95.
    PMID: 25590271 DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000411
    BACKGROUND: Roughly 4% of the 1.25 million patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Asia are using second-line therapy. To maximize patient benefit and regional resources, it is important to optimize the timing of second-line ART initiation and use the most effective compounds available.

    METHODS: HIV-positive patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database who had used second-line ART for ≥6 months were included. ART use and rates and predictors of second-line treatment failure were evaluated.

    RESULTS: There were 302 eligible patients. Most were male (76.5%) and exposed to HIV via heterosexual contact (71.5%). Median age at second-line initiation was 39.2 years, median CD4 cell count was 146 cells per cubic millimeter, and median HIV viral load was 16,224 copies per milliliter. Patients started second-line ART before 2007 (n = 105), 2007-2010 (n = 147) and after 2010 (n = 50). Ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and atazanavir accounted for the majority of protease inhibitor use after 2006. Median follow-up time on second-line therapy was 2.3 years. The rates of treatment failure and mortality per 100 patient/years were 8.8 (95% confidence interval: 7.1 to 10.9) and 1.1 (95% confidence interval: 0.6 to 1.9), respectively. Older age, high baseline viral load, and use of a protease inhibitor other than lopinavir or atazanavir were associated with a significantly shorter time to second-line failure.

    CONCLUSIONS: Increased access to viral load monitoring to facilitate early detection of first-line ART failure and subsequent treatment switch is important for maximizing the durability of second-line therapy in Asia. Although second-line ART is highly effective in the region, the reported rate of failure emphasizes the need for third-line ART in a small portion of patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  13. Boyd MA, Amin J, Mallon PW, Kumarasamy N, Lombaard J, Wood R, et al.
    Lancet HIV, 2017 01;4(1):e13-e20.
    PMID: 27815068 DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3018(16)30189-8
    BACKGROUND: Lipoatrophy is one of the most feared complications associated with the use of nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N[t]RTIs). We aimed to assess soft-tissue changes in participants with HIV who had virological failure of a first-line antiretroviral (ART) regimen containing a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor plus two N(t)RTIs and were randomly assigned to receive a second-line regimen containing a boosted protease inhibitor given with either N(t)RTIs or raltegravir.

    METHODS: Of the 37 sites that participated in the randomised, open-label, non-inferiority SECOND-LINE study, eight sites from five countries (Argentina, India, Malaysia, South Africa, and Thailand) participated in the body composition substudy. All sites had a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner and all participants enrolled in SECOND-LINE were eligible for inclusion in the substudy. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1), via a computer-generated allocation schedule, to receive either ritonavir-boosted lopinavir plus raltegravir (raltegravir group) or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir plus two or three N(t)RTIs (N[t]RTI group). Randomisation was stratified by site and screening HIV-1 RNA. Participants and investigators were not masked to group assignment, but allocation was concealed until after interventions were assigned. DXA scans were done at weeks 0, 48, and 96. The primary endpoint was mean percentage and absolute change in peripheral limb fat from baseline to week 96. We did intention-to-treat analyses of available data. This substudy is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01513122.

    FINDINGS: Between Aug 1, 2010, and July 10, 2011, we recruited 211 participants into the substudy. The intention-to-treat population comprised 102 participants in the N(t)RTI group and 108 participants in the raltegravir group, of whom 91 and 105 participants, respectively, reached 96 weeks. Mean percentage change in limb fat from baseline to week 96 was 16·8% (SD 32·6) in the N(t)RTI group and 28·0% (37·6) in the raltegravir group (mean difference 10·2%, 95% CI 0·1-20·4; p=0·048). Mean absolute change was 1·04 kg (SD 2·29) in the N(t)RTI group and 1·81 kg (2·50) in the raltegravir group (mean difference 0·6, 95% CI -0·1 to 1·3; p=0·10).

    INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that for people with virological failure of a first-line regimen containing efavirenz plus tenofovir and lamivudine or emtricitabine, the WHO-recommended switch to a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor plus zidovudine (a thymidine analogue nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) and lamivudine might come at the cost of peripheral lipoatrophy. Further study could help to define specific groups of people who might benefit from a switch to an N(t)RTI-sparing second-line ART regimen.

    FUNDING: The Kirby Institute and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  14. Cain LE, Phillips A, Lodi S, Sabin C, Bansi L, Justice A, et al.
    AIDS, 2012 Aug 24;26(13):1691-705.
    PMID: 22546987
    OBJECTIVE: To compare regimens consisting of either efavirenz or nevirapine and two or more nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) among HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive, and AIDS-free individuals with respect to clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes.

    DESIGN: Prospective studies of HIV-infected individuals in Europe and the US included in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration.

    METHODS: Antiretroviral therapy-naive and AIDS-free individuals were followed from the time they started an NRTI, efavirenz or nevirapine, classified as following one or both types of regimens at baseline, and censored when they started an ineligible drug or at 6 months if their regimen was not yet complete. We estimated the 'intention-to-treat' effect for nevirapine versus efavirenz regimens on clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes. Our models included baseline covariates and adjusted for potential bias introduced by censoring via inverse probability weighting.

    RESULTS: A total of 15 336 individuals initiated an efavirenz regimen (274 deaths, 774 AIDS-defining illnesses) and 8129 individuals initiated a nevirapine regimen (203 deaths, 441 AIDS-defining illnesses). The intention-to-treat hazard ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] for nevirapine versus efavirenz regimens were 1.59 (1.27, 1.98) for death and 1.28 (1.09, 1.50) for AIDS-defining illness. Individuals on nevirapine regimens experienced a smaller 12-month increase in CD4 cell count by 11.49 cells/μl and were 52% more likely to have virologic failure at 12 months as those on efavirenz regimens.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our intention-to-treat estimates are consistent with a lower mortality, a lower incidence of AIDS-defining illness, a larger 12-month increase in CD4 cell count, and a smaller risk of virologic failure at 12 months for efavirenz compared with nevirapine.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  15. Chatha ZF, Rashid U, Olsen S, Din FU, Khan A, Nawaz K, et al.
    BMC Infect Dis, 2020 Nov 23;20(1):874.
    PMID: 33228562 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05571-w
    BACKGROUND: Pakistan is facing a growing population of people living with human immunodeficiency (HIV). In this randomized controlled trial, we investigate if a pharmacist-led intervention can increase adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH).

    METHODS: Adults with HIV, who have been taking ART for more than 3 months were randomly assigned to receive either a pharmacist-led intervention or their usual care. Measures of adherence were collected at 1) baseline 2) just prior to delivery of intervention and 3) 8 weeks later. The primary outcomes were CD4 cell count and self-reported adherence measured with the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) questionnaire.

    RESULTS: Post-intervention, the intervention group showed a statistically significant increase in CD4 cell counts as compared to the usual care group (p = 0.0054). In addition, adherence improved in the intervention group, with participants being 5.96 times more likely to report having not missed their medication for longer periods of time (p = 0.0086) while participants in the intervention group were 7.74 times more likely to report missing their ART less frequently (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  16. Chen M, Wong WW, Law MG, Kiertiburanakul S, Yunihastuti E, Merati TP, et al.
    PLoS One, 2016;11(3):e0150512.
    PMID: 26933963 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150512
    BACKGROUND: We assessed the effects of hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection on outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD), a multi-center cohort of HIV-infected patients in the Asia-Pacific region.

    METHODS: Patients testing HBs antigen (Ag) or HCV antibody (Ab) positive within enrollment into TAHOD were considered HBV or HCV co-infected. Factors associated with HBV and/or HCV co-infection were assessed by logistic regression models. Factors associated with post-ART HIV immunological response (CD4 change after six months) and virological response (HIV RNA <400 copies/ml after 12 months) were also determined. Survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test.

    RESULTS: A total of 7,455 subjects were recruited by December 2012. Of patients tested, 591/5656 (10.4%) were HBsAg positive, 794/5215 (15.2%) were HCVAb positive, and 88/4966 (1.8%) were positive for both markers. In multivariate analysis, HCV co-infection, age, route of HIV infection, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA, and HIV-1 subtype were associated with immunological recovery. Age, route of HIV infection, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA, ART regimen, prior ART and HIV-1 subtype, but not HBV or HCV co-infection, affected HIV RNA suppression. Risk factors affecting mortality included HCV co-infection, age, CDC stage, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA and prior mono/dual ART. Shortest survival was seen in subjects who were both HBV- and HCV-positive.

    CONCLUSION: In this Asian cohort of HIV-infected patients, HCV co-infection, but not HBV co-infection, was associated with lower CD4 cell recovery after ART and increased mortality.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  17. Chow WZ, Lim SH, Ong LY, Yong YK, Takebe Y, Kamarulzaman A, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(9):e0137281.
    PMID: 26335136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137281
    Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes have been shown to differ in the rate of clinical progression. We studied the association between HIV-1 subtypes and the rate of CD4+ T-cell recovery in a longitudinal cohort of patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We studied 103 patients infected with CRF01_AE (69%) and subtype B (31%) who initiated cART between 2006 and 2013. Demographic data, CD4+ T-cell counts and HIV-1 viral load were abstracted from patient medical charts. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate the time to CD4+ T-cell count increase to ≥350 between subtypes and effects of covariates were analysed using Cox proportional hazards. An 87% of the study population were male adults (mean age of 38.7 years old). Baseline CD4+ T-cell counts and viral loads, age at cART initiation, sex, ethnicity and co-infection did not differ significantly between subtypes. A shorter median time for CD4+ T-cell count increase to ≥350 cells/μL was observed for CRF01_AE (546 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 186-906 days; P = .502) compared to subtype B (987 days; 95% CI, 894-1079 days). In multivariate analysis, female sex was significantly associated with a 2.7 times higher chance of achieving CD4+ T-cell recovery (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% CI, 1.21-6.22; P = .025) and both baseline CD4+ T-cell count (P = .001) and viral load (P = .001) were important predictors for CD4+ T-cell recovery. Immunological recovery correlated significantly with female sex, baseline CD4+ T-cell counts and viral load but not subtype.
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  18. Dhaliwal JS, Balasubramaniam T, Quek CK, Arumainnathan S, Nasuruddin BA
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1995 Nov;24(6):785-8.
    PMID: 8838981
    A cross-sectional study on the expression of 6 lymphocyte markers was carried out on 481 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 79 normals after stratification based on absolute CD4 counts. The data were stratified according to the following groups: (I) 1201 to 1600, (II) 801 to 1200, (III) 401 to 800 and (IV) 0 to 400 (x 10(6) CD4 cells per mm3). The mean percentages of the subsets before stratification showed that HIV patients had increased percentages of CD3+ (75.7 against 66.9), CD3+CD8+ (52.2 against 32.3) and CD3+HLA-DR+ (36.1 against 14.4) cells and lower percentages of CD19 (10.3 against 13.3) and natural killer cells (13.7 against 20.4) when compared to controls in the same group. A definite trend, however, was only seen in CD3+CD8+ (47.4, 50.0, 54.0, 57.5 for groups I, II, III and IV respectively) and CD3+HLA-DR+ (29.1, 32.9, 38.4, 43.9 for groups I, II, III and IV respectively).
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  19. Durier N, Yunihastuti E, Ruxrungtham K, Kinh NV, Kamarulzaman A, Boettiger D, et al.
    J Viral Hepat, 2017 03;24(3):187-196.
    PMID: 27917597 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12630
    Data on markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients in resource-limited settings are scarce. We assessed HCV RNA, HCV genotype (GT), IL28B GT and liver fibrosis (FibroScan® ) in 480 HIV-infected patients with positive HCV antibody in four HIV treatment centres in South-East Asia. We enrolled 165 (34.4%) patients in Jakarta, 158 (32.9%) in Bangkok, 110 (22.9%) in Hanoi and 47 (9.8%) in Kuala Lumpur. Overall, 426 (88.8%) were male, the median (IQR) age was 38.1 (34.7-42.5) years, 365 (76.0%) reported HCV exposure through injecting drug use, and 453 (94.4%) were on combination antiretroviral therapy. The median (IQR) CD4 count was 446 (325-614) cells/mm3 and 208 (94.1%) of 221 patients tested had HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/mL. A total of 412 (85.8%) had detectable HCV RNA, at a median (IQR) of 6.2 (5.4-6.6) log10 IU/mL. Among 380 patients with HCV GT, 223 (58.7%) had GT1, 97 (25.5%) had GT3, 43 (11.3%) had GT6, eight (2.1%) had GT4, two (0.5%) had GT2, and seven (1.8%) had indeterminate GT. Of 222 patients with IL28B testing, 189 (85.1%) had rs12979860 CC genotype, and 199 (89.6%) had rs8099917 TT genotype. Of 380 patients with FibroScan® , 143 (37.6%) had no/mild liver fibrosis (F0-F1), 83 (21.8%) had moderate fibrosis (F2), 74 (19.5%) had severe fibrosis (F3), and 79 (20.8%) had cirrhosis (F4). One patient (0.3%) had FibroScan® failure. In conclusion, a high proportion of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients had chronic HCV infection. HCV GT1 was predominant, and 62% of patients had liver disease warranting prompt treatment (≥F2).
    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  20. Fahrni ML, Misran NFL, Abidin ZZ, Chidambaram SK, Lazzarino AI
    J Infect Public Health, 2023 Jan;16(1):96-103.
    PMID: 36508946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.12.001
    BACKGROUND: While efavirenz-associated adverse drug events (ADEs) were widely established, the clinical relevance is uncertain.

    OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the extent of treatment interruption caused by efavirenz-associated ADEs.

    METHODS: A case-control study of efavirenz recipients who did, versus did not (control) develop adverse drug events (ADE), and who were matched for baseline CD4 + at a ratio of 1:1.3 was conducted. Antiretroviral -naïve patients who were started on efavirenz were followed up retrospectively, and their records scrutinized every month for 2 years. Demographic and clinical predictors of treatment interruption were computed using Cox proportional hazard models. Kaplan- Meier curves were plotted to assess time to treatment interruption for the two groups. Clinical endpoints were: i) efficacy -improved CD4 + counts and/or viral load (VL) suppression, ii) safety -absence of treatment-limiting toxicities, and iii) durability - no interruption until follow-up ended.

    RESULTS: Both groups had comparable CD4 + counts at baseline (p = 0.15). At t = 24-months, VL in both groups were suppressed to undetectable levels (<20 copies/mL) while median CD4 + was 353 cells/µL (IQR: 249-460). The mean time on treatment was 23 months (95% CI, 22.3 -23.4) in the control group without ADE and 20 months (95% CI, 18.9 - 21.6) in the ADE group (p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier plots demonstrated that 59.5% of patients who experienced ≥ 1 ADE versus 81% of those who did not experience any ADE were estimated to continue treatment for up to 24 months with no interruption (p = 0.001). Most interruptions to EFV treatment occurred in the presence of opportunistic infections and these were detected within the first 5 months of treatment initiation. Independent predictors which negatively impacted the dependent variable i.e., treatment durability, were intravenous drug use (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR 2.17, 95% CI, 1.03-4.61, p = 0.043), presence of ≥ 1 opportunistic infection(s) (aHR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.13-4.21, p = 0.021), and presence of ≥ 1 serious ADE(s) (aHR 4.18, 95% CI, 1.98-8.85, p = 0.00).

    CONCLUSION: Efavirenz' role as the preferred first-line regimen for South-East Asia's resource-limited regions will need to be carefully tailored to suit the regional population. Findings have implications to policy-makers and clinicians, particularly for the treatment of patients who develop ADEs and opportunistic infections, and for intravenous drug user subgroups.

    Matched MeSH terms: CD4 Lymphocyte Count
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