Efficacy of NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy initiated during acute HIV infection

Antiretroviral Therapy in Pregnancy: A 2023 Review of the Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Selection of antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy must consider maternal physiology and resulting pharmacokinetic changes in pregnancy, resistance and efficacy profiles, tolerability and frequency of adverse effects, teratogenicity, and maternal, neonatal, and pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this review is to summarize the underlying data that informs the current clinical perinatal guidelines in the USA.

RECENT FINDINGS

Data now supports the use of dolutegravir at all stages of pregnancy with no significant increase in neural tube defects. Safety and pharmacokinetic data on newer antiretroviral medications in pregnancy continue to lag behind the general population. While there are multiple safety and tolerability concerns with older regimens, there are now multiple options of regimens that are highly efficacious and have good safety data in pregnancy. Most pregnant patients who are virally suppressed on a well-tolerated regimen are able to safely continue those medications during pregnancy.

Single-cell analysis of immune cell transcriptome during HIV-1 infection and therapy

BACKGROUND

Cellular immune responses are phenotypically and functionally perturbed during HIV-1 infection, with the majority of function restored upon antiretroviral therapy (ART). Despite ART, residual inflammation remains that can lead to HIV-related co-morbidities and mortality, indicating that ART does not fully restore normal immune cell function. Thus, understanding the dynamics of the immune cell landscape during HIV-1 infection and ART is critical to defining cellular dysfunction that occurs during HIV-1 infection and imprints during therapy.

RESULTS

Here, we have applied single-cell transcriptome sequencing of peripheral blood immune cells from chronic untreated HIV-1 individuals, HIV-1-infected individuals receiving ART and HIV-1 negative individuals. We also applied single-cell transcriptome sequencing to a primary cell model of early HIV-1 infection using CD4+ T cells from healthy donors. We described changes in the transcriptome at high resolution that occurred during HIV-1 infection, and perturbations that remained during ART. We also determined transcriptional differences among T cells expressing HIV-1 transcripts that identified key regulators of HIV-1 infection that may serve as targets for future therapies to block HIV-1 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This work identified key molecular pathways that are altered in immune cells during chronic HIV-1 infection that could remain despite therapy. We also identified key genes that are upregulated during early HIV-1 infection that provide insights on the mechanism of HIV-1 infection and could be targets for future therapy.

Deprenyl reduces inflammation during acute SIV infection

In the era of antiretroviral therapy, inflammation is a central factor in numerous HIV-associated comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This highlights the value of developing therapeutics that both reduce HIV-associated inflammation and treat associated comorbidities. Previous research on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) suggests this class of drugs has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to neuropsychiatric effects. Therefore, we examined the impact of deprenyl, an MAOI, on SIV-associated inflammation during acute SIV infection using the rhesus macaque model of HIV infection. Our results show deprenyl decreased both peripheral and CNS inflammation but had no effect on viral load in either the periphery or CNS. These data show that the MAOI deprenyl may have broad anti-inflammatory effects when given during the acute stage of SIV infection, suggesting more research into the anti-inflammatory effects of this drug could result in a beneficial adjuvant for antiretroviral therapy.

Acute HIV Infection and CD4/CD8 Ratio Normalization After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation

BACKGROUND

We estimated the effect of initiating virologically suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute HIV infection versus chronic HIV infection (AHI vs. CHI) on CD4/CD8 ratio normalization.

SETTING

A prospective clinical cohort study.

METHODS

We included patients initiating ART with AHI and CHI between 2000 and 2015 and compared time from ART initiation to the first normal CD4/CD8 ratio (defined as CD4/CD8 ≥1) using Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Patient time was censored at virologic failure, lost to follow-up, or death. We also characterized CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8 trajectories over the first 3 years of ART.

RESULTS

The 1198 patients were 27% female and 60% African American, with a median age of 37 years (interquartile range 28-47) at ART initiation. The 83 AHI patients were more likely male, younger, and of white race, than CHI patients. After 2 years of suppressive ART, 70% of AHI patients achieved a normal CD4/CD8 ratio, compared to 6%-38% of CHI patients, with greater likelihood of normalization at higher baseline CD4 counts. Time to normalization was shortest among AHI patients, followed by CHI patients with higher baseline CD4. The adjusted hazard ratio for time to normalization for AHI patients compared to CHI patients with baseline CD4 >350 was 4.33 (95% CI: 3.16 to 5.93). Higher baseline CD4/CD8 ratio was also associated with time to normalization (adjusted hazard ratio 1.54; 1.46, 1.63, per 0.1 increase in ratio).

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating ART during AHI at higher baseline CD4 cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratios was associated with shorter time to CD4/CD8 ratio normalization.

Dopaminergic impact of cART and anti-depressants on HIV neuropathogenesis in older adults

The success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV infection into a chronic condition, resulting in an increase in the number of older, cART-treated adults living with HIV. This has increased the incidence of age-related, non-AIDS comorbidities in this population. One of the most common comorbidities is depression, which is also associated with cognitive impairment and a number of neuropathologies. In older people living with HIV, treating these overlapping disorders is complex, often creating pill burden or adverse drug-drug interactions that can exacerbate these neurologic disorders. Depression, NeuroHIV and many of the neuropsychiatric therapeutics used to treat them impact the dopaminergic system, suggesting that dopaminergic dysfunction may be a common factor in the development of these disorders. Further, changes in dopamine can influence the development of inflammation and the regulation of immune function, which are also implicated in the progression of NeuroHIV and depression. Little is known about the optimal clinical management of drug-drug interactions between cART drugs and antidepressants, particularly in regard to dopamine in older people living with HIV. This review will discuss those interactions, first examining the etiology of NeuroHIV and depression in older adults, then discussing the interrelated effects of dopamine and inflammation on these disorders, and finally reviewing the activity and interactions of cART drugs and antidepressants on each of these factors. Developing better strategies to manage these comorbidities is critical to the health of the aging, HIV-infected population, as the older population may be particularly vulnerable to drug-drug interactions affecting dopamine.

Obstructive sleep apnea among HIV-infected men in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era: a nation-wide longitudinal cohort study in Taiwan, 2000-2011

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) between HIV-infected and matched non-infected persons and aimed to determine the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of OSA among HIV-infected men.

METHODS

A population-based cohort design was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), which contained 13,552 HIV-infected persons and 134,361 matched age-, sex-, and index year-controls. The incidence density rates (IRR) were calculated to estimate the OSA incidence both in the HIV group and matched controls. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess the HAART effect on the incidence of OSA among HIV-infected men.

RESULTS

The IRR of OSA was lower in the HIV group than in the matched controls (1.91 vs. 2.26 per 1000 person-years, respectively). The associated factors for OSA in HIV-infected men were higher monthly salary (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.97, p < 0.01), obesity (aHR, 3.99, p < 0.01), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aHR, 2.02, p < 0.01). Continued HAART at least a half year was associated with less diagnosed OSA (AHR, 0.70, p = 0.03) in HIV-infected men.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-infected persons had a lower rate of OSA diagnosis compared to the matched controls. Healthcare providers are needed to increase awareness in HIV-infected men with sleep disorders, especially for those with low social economic status, comorbidities, and non-continuous HAART use.

Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Antiretrovirals and a Behavioral Intervention for Persons With Acute HIV Infection: Opportunity for Interrupting Transmission

Background

Persons with acute HIV infection (AHI) have heightened transmission risk. We evaluated potential transmission reduction using behavioral and biomedical interventions in a randomized controlled pilot study in Malawi.

Methods

Persons were randomized 1:2:2 to standard counseling (SC), 5-session behavioral intervention (BI), or behavioral intervention plus 12 weeks of antiretrovirals (ARVs; BIA). All were followed for 26–52 weeks and, regardless of arm, referred for treatment according to Malawi-ARV guidelines. Participants were asked to refer partners for testing.

Results

Among 46 persons (9 SC, 18 BI, 19 BIA), the average age was 28; 61% were male. The median viral load (VL) was 5.9 log copies/mL at enrollment. 67% (10/15) of BIA participants were suppressed (<1000 copies/mL) at week 12 vs 25% BI and 50% SC (P = .07). Although the mean number of reported condomless sexual acts in the past week decreased from baseline across all arms (1.5 vs 0.3 acts), 36% experienced incident sexually transmitted infection by 52 weeks (12% SC, 28% BI, 18% BIA). Forty-one percent (19/46) of participants referred partners (44% SC, 44% BI, 37% BIA); 15 of the partners were HIV-infected.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of AHI facilitates behavioral and biomedical risk reduction strategies during a high-transmission period that begins years before people are typically identified and started on ARVs. Sexually transmitted infection incidence in this cohort suggests ongoing risk behaviors, reinforcing the importance of early intervention with ARVs to reduce transmission. Early diagnosis coupled with standard AHI counseling and early ARV referral quickly suppresses viremia, may effectively change behavior, and could have tremendous public health benefit in reducing onward transmission.

Incidence of Neurological Disorders Among HIV-Infected Individuals With Universal Health Care in Taiwan From 2000 to 2010

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of and factors associated with neurological disorders in a large Taiwanese cohort of HIV-infected persons with free access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

DESIGN

A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database for the years 2000-2010.

METHODS

We identified 13,316 HIV-positive persons from 2000 through 2010. We used direct standardization to calculate age-adjusted and sex-adjusted incidence rates based on the 2000 World Health Organization world standard population. Factors associated with neurological disorders were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The standardized incidence of neurological disorders among HIV-infected persons increased from 22.16 per 1000 person-years in 2000 to 25.23 per 1000 person-years in 2010. Cognitive disorders increased significantly from 0.36 per 1000 person-years in 2001 to 7.44 per 1000 person-years in 2010 (trend P < 0.001). The rate of neurological disorders increased with age ≥55 years [adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.89 to 3.40], hypertension (AHR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.76), substance abuse (AHR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.02), opportunistic infection (AHR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.47 to 2.11), syphilis (AHR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.47), and emergency department visits >5 (AHR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.96 to 2.97). The incidence of neurological disorders was negatively associated with adherence to HAART (adherence ≥85% AHR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

The rising incidence of cognitive disorders among HIV-positive persons highlights the need to provide routine neurological evaluations at clinical visits. Receiving HAART with adherence ≥85% contributes to a reduced risk of neurological disorders.

Envelope-specific antibodies and antibody-derived molecules for treating and curing HIV infection

HIV-1 is a retrovirus that integrates into host chromatin and can remain transcriptionally quiescent in a pool of immune cells. This characteristic enables HIV-1 to evade both host immune responses and antiretroviral drugs, leading to persistent infection. Upon reactivation of proviral gene expression, HIV-1 envelope (HIV-1 Env) glycoproteins are expressed on the cell surface, transforming latently infected cells into targets for HIV-1 Env-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which can engage immune effector cells to kill productively infected CD4+ T cells and thus limit the spread of progeny virus. Recent innovations in antibody engineering have resulted in novel immunotherapeutics such as bispecific dual-affinity re-targeting (DART) molecules and other bi- and trispecific antibody designs that can recognize HIV-1 Env and recruit cytotoxic effector cells to kill CD4+ T cells latently infected with HIV-1. Here, we review these immunotherapies, which are designed with the goal of curing HIV-1 infection.

Fixed-dose combination emtricitabine/tenofovir/efavirenz initiated during acute HIV infection; 96-week efficacy and durability

BACKGROUND

Updated guidelines recommend immediate antiretroviral treatment (ART) during acute HIV infection (AHI), but efficacy data on regimens during AHI are limited.

METHODS

We provide final data on a prospective, single-arm 96-week open-label study of once-daily emtricitabine/tenofovir/efavirenz initiated during AHI. The primary endpoint was the proportion of responders with HIV RNA less than 200 copies/ml by week 24. We examined time to viral suppression, retention, and CD8 cell activation through week 96 in relation to baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Between January 2005 and December 2011, 92 AHI participants enrolled. Most participants (78%) were men who have sex with men (MSM), and 42% were young MSM (18-25 years of age). Two participants withdrew leaving 90 patients for analysis. Eighty-one (90%) remained on therapy and achieved viral suppression to less than 200 copies/ml by week 24, and 71 (79%) to less than 50 copies/ml at week 48. The median time from ART initiation to suppression less than 200 copies/ml was 65 days (range 7-523) and to less than 50 copies/ml was 105 days (range 14-523). The frequency of immune activation declined from a median of 67% to 16% through week 96. Retention on study was maintained in 92% of participants at week 48 and in 83% through week 96. Among 75 participants retained through week 96, 92% were suppressed to less than 50 copies/ml. Among 39 young MSM, 79% completed a week 96 visit and 67% were suppressed at week 96.

CONCLUSION

ART during AHI resulted in rapid and sustained viral suppression with high rates of retention in care and on ART in this cohort including a large proportion of young MSM.

Impact of early cART in the gut during acute HIV infection

Early after HIV infection there is substantial depletion of CD4+ T cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lamina propria (LP), with associated epithelial barrier damage, leading to microbial translocation and systemic inflammation and immune activation. In this study, we analyzed these early events in the GI tract in a cohort of Thai acute HIV-infected patients and determined the effect of early combination antiretroviral treatment (cART). HIV-uninfected and chronically and acutely HIV-infected patients at different Fiebig stages (I-V) underwent colonic biopsies and then received cART. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative image analysis were performed on cross-sectional and longitudinal colon biopsy specimens (day 0 to week 96) to measure GI tract damage (infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells), inflammation (M×1, TNF-α), immune activation (Ki-67), and the CD4+ T cell population in the LP. The magnitude of GI tract damage, immune activation, and inflammation was significantly increased, with significantly depleted CD4+ T cells in the LP in all acutely infected groups prior to cART compared with HIV-uninfected control participants. While most patients treated during acute infection resolved GI tract inflammation and immune activation back to baseline levels after 24 weeks of cART, most acutely infected participants did not restore their CD4+ T cells after 96 weeks of cART.

Ten Years of Screening and Testing for Acute HIV Infection in North Carolina

OBJECTIVE

To describe demographic and behavioral characteristics of persons with acute HIV infection (AHI) over time.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective assessment of AHI identified through the Screening and Tracing Active Transmission (STAT) program from 2003 to 2012 in North Carolina (NC). AHI was identified using pooled nucleic acid amplification for antibody negative samples and individual HIV-1 RNA for antibody indeterminate samples. The STAT program provides rapid notification and evaluation. We compared STAT-collected demographic and risk characteristics with all persons requesting tests and all non-AHI diagnoses from the NC State Laboratory of Public Health.

RESULTS

The STAT Program identified 236 AHI cases representing 3.4% (95% confidence interval: 3.0% to 3.9%) of all HIV diagnoses. AHI cases were similar to those diagnosed during established HIV. On pretest risk-assessments, AHI cases were predominately black (69.1%), male (80.1%), young (46.8% < 25 years), and men who have sex with men (MSM) (51.7%). Per postdiagnosis interviews, the median age decreased from 35 (interquartile range 25-42) to 27 (interquartile range 22-37) years, and the proportion <25 years increased from 23.8% to 45.2% (trend P = 0.04) between 2003 and 2012. AHI men were more likely to report MSM risk post-diagnosis than on pretest risk-assessments (64%-82.9%; P < 0.0001). Post-diagnosis report of MSM risk in men with AHI increased from 71.4% to 96.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

In NC, 3.4% of individuals diagnosed with HIV infection have AHI. AHI screening provides a real-time source of incidence trends, improves the diagnostic yield of HIV testing, and offers an opportunity to limit onward transmission.

The Global Health Impact Index: Promoting Global Health

Millions of people cannot access essential medicines they need for deadly diseases like malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. There is good information on the need for drugs for these diseases but until now, no global estimate of the impact drugs are having on this burden. This paper presents a model measuring companies' key malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS drugs' consequences for global health (global-health-impact.org). It aggregates drugs' impacts in several ways-by disease, country and originator-company. The methodology can be extended across diseases as well as drugs to provide a more extensive picture of the impact companies' drugs are having on the global burden of disease. The study suggests that key malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS drugs are, together, ameliorating about 37% of the global burden of these diseases and Sanofi, Novartis, and Pfizer's drugs are having the largest effect on this burden. Moreover, drug impacts vary widely across countries. This index provides important information for policy makers, pharmaceutical companies, countries, and other stake-holders that can help increase access to essential medicines.

Incident sexually transmitted infection as a biomarker for high-risk sexual behavior after diagnosis of acute HIV

BACKGROUND

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis after diagnosis of acute HIV infection (AHI) indicates ongoing high-risk sexual behavior and possible risk of HIV transmission. We assessed predictors of STI acquisition and the effect of time since care entry on STI incidence in patients with AHI in care and receiving consistent risk-reduction messaging.

METHODS

Data on incident gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, primary/secondary syphilis, demographic, and clinical risk factors were abstracted from medical charts for patients diagnosed as having AHI and engaged in care. Poisson regression models using generalized estimating equations were fit to estimate incidence rates (IRs), IR ratios, and robust 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Among 185 patients with AHI, 26 (14%) were diagnosed as having at least 1 incident STI over 709.4 person-years; 46 STIs were diagnosed during follow-up (IR, 6.8/100 person-years). The median time from HIV care entry to first STI diagnosis was 609 days (range, 168-1681 days). Men who have sex with men (P = 0.03), a shorter time between presentation to medical care and AHI diagnosis (P = 0.06), and STI diagnosis before AHI diagnosis (P = 0.0003) were predictors of incident STI. Sexually transmitted infection IR greater than 1 year after entering care was double that of patients in care 1 year or less (IR ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-4.9). HIV viral load was above the limits of detection within 1 month of 11 STI diagnoses in 6 patients (23.1%) (median, 15,898 copies/mL; range, 244-152,000 copies/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite regular HIV care, STI incidence was high among this primarily young, men who have sex with men AHI cohort. Early antiretroviral initiation may decrease HIV transmission given ongoing risk behaviors despite risk-reduction messaging.

HIV Type 1 Disease Progression to AIDS and Death in a Rural Ugandan Cohort Is Primarily Dependent on Viral Load Despite Variable Subtype and T-Cell Immune Activation Levels

BACKGROUND

Untreated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection is associated with persistent immune activation, which is an independent driver of disease progression in European and United States cohorts. In Uganda, HIV-1 subtypes A and D and recombinant AD viruses predominate and exhibit differential rates of disease progression.

METHODS

HIV-1 seroconverters (n = 156) from rural Uganda were evaluated to assess the effects of T-cell activation, viral load, and viral subtype on disease progression during clinical follow-up.

RESULTS

The frequency of activated T cells was increased in HIV-1-infected Ugandans, compared with community matched uninfected individuals, but did not differ significantly between viral subtypes. Higher HIV-1 load, subtype D, older age, and high T-cell activation levels were associated with faster disease progression to AIDS or death. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, HIV-1 load was the strongest predictor of progression, with subtype also contributing. T-cell activation did not emerge an independent predictor of disease progression from this particular cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the independent contribution of T-cell activation on morbidity and mortality observed in European and North American cohorts may not be directly translated to the HIV epidemic in East Africa. In this setting, HIV-1 load appears to be the primary determinant of disease progression.

Prevalence of undiagnosed acute and chronic HIV in a lower-prevalence urban emergency department

OBJECTIVES

We estimated the seroprevalence of both acute and chronic HIV infection by using a random sample of emergency department (ED) patients from a region of the United States with low-to-moderate HIV prevalence.

METHODS

This cross-sectional seroprevalence study consecutively enrolled patients aged 18 to 64 years within randomly selected sampling blocks in a Midwestern urban ED in a region of lower HIV prevalence in 2008 to 2009. Participants were compensated for providing a blood sample and health information. After de-identification, we assayed samples for HIV antibody and nucleic acid.

RESULTS

There were 926 participants who consented and enrolled. Overall, prevalence of undiagnosed HIV was 0.76% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30%, 1.56%). Three participants (0.32%; 95% CI = 0.09%, 0.86%) were nucleic acid-positive but antibody-negative and 4 (0.43%; 95% CI = 0.15%, 1.02%) were antibody-positive.

CONCLUSIONS

Even when the absolute prevalence is low, a considerable proportion of undetected HIV cases in an ED population are acute. Identification of acute HIV in ED settings should receive increased priority.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on the incidence of cervical neoplasia among HIV-infected women: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer has been recognized as one of the AIDS-defining cancers since 1993. Receipt of HAART has been shown to reduce the risk of opportunistic infection and AIDS-defining malignancies. However, findings concerning the effect of HAART on cervical neoplasia have been inconsistent.

DESIGN

A population-based cohort design was used, in which 1360 HIV-infected women were compared to the general population (HIV-negative women). The comparison population included 358 141 HIV-negative women randomly selected from among all insured persons in Taiwan in 2000. Data from HIV-infected and uninfected women were analyzed through 2008.

METHODS

The age and calendar year-standardized incidence ratio was calculated to estimate the relative risk of cervical neoplasia, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the effect of HAART on the incidence of cervical neoplasia.

RESULTS

The incidence of cervical neoplasia was four times higher in the HIV-infected women than in the general population [standardized incidence ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.16-6.95]. The most increased risk was noted in HIV-infected women aged 40-59 years. Receipt of HAART was associated with a significantly reduced risk of cervical neoplasia (0.20, 0.05-0.77). The most evident protective effect was noted in adherent to HAART at least 85%, and those treated with HAART for more than 3 years (0.01, 0.00-0.47).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-infected women have a substantially increased risk of cervical neoplasia. Adherent to HAART and prolonged HAART for more than 3 years may contribute to a reduction risk of cervical neoplasia.

Can early therapy reduce inflammation?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Serious non-AIDS events or noninfectious complications of HIV infection far outnumber AIDS events in the current combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) era and are attributed to chronic inflammation. Thus, a better understanding of why inflammation persists on ART will assist in developing better therapeutic strategies, including optimal timing of ART initiation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Markers of inflammation and coagulation, such as D-dimer, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, soluble CD14, and soluble CD163, predict end-organ disease and mortality, whereas markers of T-cell activation appear more predictive of CD4 T-cell decline, AIDS events, or response to therapy. Initiating ART at high CD4 T-cell counts can result in less inflammation as supported by studies in acute and early HIV infection, but antiretroviral drugs may differentially affect inflammatory pathways. Decreasing inflammation in HIV-uninfected individuals may decrease morbidity, but long-term outcomes studies in HIV-infected individuals are lacking.

SUMMARY

Circulating biomarkers of inflammation are among the strongest predictors of non-AIDS outcomes in treated HIV infection. With additional investigation, they may serve in the future as specific end-organ disease surrogate endpoints and may help identify those patients at highest risk of non-AIDS events who may benefit from either early ART and/or potential adjuvant anti-inflammatory therapies.

Antiretroviral therapy initiated during acute HIV infection fails to prevent persistent T-cell activation

Initiation of antiretroviral therapy during acute HIV-1 infection may prevent persistent immune activation. We analyzed longitudinal CD38+HLA-DR+ CD8+ T-cell percentages in 31 acutely infected individuals who started early (median 43 days since infection) and successful antiretroviral therapy, and maintained viral suppression through 96 weeks. Pretherapy a median of 72.6% CD8+ T cells were CD38+HLA-DR+, and although this decreased to 15.6% by 96 weeks, it remained substantially higher than seronegative controls (median 8.9%, P = 0.008). Shorter time to suppression predicted lower activation at 96 weeks. These results support the hypothesis that very early events in HIV-1 pathogenesis may result in prolonged immune dysfunction.

Acute HIV-1 infection in the Southeastern United States: a cohort study

In 1998 a collaboration between Duke University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) was founded to enhance identification of persons with acute HIV-1 infection (AHI). The Duke-UNC AHI Research Consortium Cohort consists of patients ≥18 years old with a positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and either a negative enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test or a positive EIA with a negative/indeterminate Western blot. Patients were referred to the cohort from acute care settings and state-funded HIV testing sites that use NAAT testing on pooled HIV-1 antibody-negative samples. Between 1998 and 2010, 155 patients with AHI were enrolled: 81 (52%) African-Americans, 63 (41%) white, non-Hispanics, 137 (88%) males, 108 (70%) men who have sex with men (MSM), and 18 (12%) females. The median age was 27 years (IQR 22-38). Most (n=138/155) reported symptoms with a median duration of 17.5 days. The median nadir CD4 count was 408 cells/mm(3) (IQR 289-563); the median observed peak HIV-1 level was 726,859 copies/ml (IQR 167,585-3,565,728). The emergency department was the most frequent site of initial presentation (n=55/152; 3 missing data). AHI diagnosis was made at time of first contact in 62/137 (45%; 18 missing data) patients. This prospectively enrolled cohort is the largest group of patients with AHI reported from the Southeastern United States. The demographics reflect the epidemic of this geographic area with a high proportion of African-Americans, including young black MSM. Highlighting the challenges of diagnosing AHI, less than half of the patients were diagnosed at the first healthcare visit. Women made up a small proportion despite increasing numbers in our clinics.

Characterization of peripheral and mucosal immune responses in rhesus macaques on long-term tenofovir and emtricitabine combination antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

The goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to suppress virus replication to limit immune system damage. Some have proposed combining ART with immune therapies to boost antiviral immunity. For this to be successful, ART must not impair physiological immune function.

METHODS

We studied the impact of ART (tenofovir and emtricitabine) on systemic and mucosal immunity in uninfected and simian immunodeficiency (SIV)-infected Chinese rhesus macaques. Subcutaneous ART was initiated 2 weeks after tonsillar inoculation with SIVmac239.

RESULTS

There was no evidence of immune dysregulation as a result of ART in either infected or uninfected animals. Early virus-induced alterations in circulating immune cell populations (decreased central memory T cells and myeloid dendritic cells) were detected, but normalized shortly after ART initiation. ART-treated animals showed marginal SIV-specific T-cell responses during treatment, which increased after ART discontinuation. Elevated expression of CXCL10 in oral, rectal, and blood samples and APOBEC3G mRNA in oral and rectal tissues was observed during acute infection and was down regulated after starting ART. ART did not impact the ability of the animals to respond to tonsillar application of polyICLC with increased CXCL10 expression in oral fluids and CD80 expression on blood myeloid dendritic cells.

CONCLUSION

Early initiation of ART prevented virus-induced damage and did not impede mucosal or systemic immune functions.

Continuous versus intermittent treatment strategies during primary HIV-1 infection: the randomized ANRS INTERPRIM Trial

OBJECTIVES

The ANRS-112 INTERPRIM trial assessed whether fixed-cycles of antiretroviral treatment interruption (ART-STI) combined or not with pegylated interferon alpha-2b (peg-IFN) could lower viral load and achieve a healthier immune system in patients diagnosed during primary HIV-1-infection (PHI).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients were randomized to receive either continuous ART (cART) during 72 weeks, or cART during 36 weeks followed by three ART-STIs, or the same ART-STIs associated with peg-IFN during the first 14 weeks and each interruption (ART-STI-IFN). Treatment was stopped at week 72. Final evaluation was based on plasma HIV-RNA level 6 months after the last treatment interruption.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven percent of patients achieved undetectable HIV-RNA at week 32, with no deleterious impact of sequential treatment interruptions (STIs). Viral rebounds during interruptions were lower in the ART-STI-IFN than in the ART-STI group and during the second and third interruptions compared with the first one. However, HIV-RNA levels, CD4 T-cell counts and CD4 T/CD8 T ratios were similar between groups after the 6-month interruption, with a persistent effect on CD4 T cells and total cell-associated HIV-DNA levels. Predictive factors of virological outcome were HIV-RNA and HIV-DNA levels at PHI and HIV-DNA levels at treatment interruption. HIV-specific responses did not differ between strategies and were not associated with outcome. Forty-eight percent of patients experienced treatment resumption during long-term follow-up without difference between groups.

CONCLUSION

When initiated during PHI, STIs associated or not with IFN did not result in a different outcome as compared to cART. All regimens showed a high response rate and a sustained immunological benefit after cessation.

A review of the virological efficacy of the 4 World Health Organization-recommended tenofovir-containing regimens for initial HIV therapy

We systematically reviewed studies of the virological efficacy of the 4 new tenofovir (TDF)-containing regimens recommended for initial antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in the 2010 World Health Organization ARV Treatment Guidelines. Thirty-three studies assessed the efficacy of 1 or more TDF-containing regimens: TDF/lamivudine (3TC)/nevirapine (NVP) (n = 3), TDF/ emtricitabine (FTC)/NVP (n = 9), TDF/3TC/efavirenz (EFV) (n = 6), and TDF/FTC/EFV (n = 19). TDF/3TC/NVP was the least well-studied and appeared the least efficacious of the 4 regimens. In 2 comparative studies, TDF/3TC/NVP was associated with significantly more virological failure than AZT/3TC/NVP; a third study was terminated prematurely because of early virological failure. TDF/FTC/NVP was either equivalent or inferior to its comparator arms. TDF/3TC/EFV was equivalent to its comparator arms. TDF/FTC/EFV was equivalent or superior to its comparator arms. Possible explanations for these findings include the greater antiviral activity of EFV versus NVP and longer intracellular half-life of FTC-triphosphate versus 3TC-triphosphate. Further study of TDF/3TC/NVP is required before it is widely deployed for initial ARV therapy.

[Use of an empirical antiretroviral treatment depends on the primary resistance rate of the human immunodeficiency virus]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was the analysis of the prevalence and type of primary resistance to antiretroviral drugs in patients diagnosed with HIV infection, and to determine the most appropriate empirical treatment to obtain a virological and immunological response.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An observational analysis of patients with a de novo diagnosis of HIV infection during the period 2008-2010. Clinical, immunological and virological characteristics, including genotype analysis of resistance to antiretrovirals, were considered as independent variables. The dependent variable was an undetectable HIV viral load after six months of treatment. Data are provided as median (interquartile range) and absolute number (percentage).

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients with a de novo diagnosis of HIV infection were included [53 males (73%); 36 (30-46) years-old; prior use of intravenous drugs: 5 patients (7%); hepatitis C virus co-infection: 13 individuals (18%)]. Ten patients (14%) showed symptoms attributable to acute HIV infection. A CD4+ T cell count lower than 350 mm(3) was detected in a 37% (n=27) of all patients. The initiation of antiretroviral therapy followed the GESIDA recommendations (no therapy: 20 patients; tenofovir+emtricitabine+efavirenz: 28 patients; abacavir+lamivudine+efavirenz: 1 patient; tenofovir+emtricitabine+protease inhibitors: 5 patients; abacavir+lamivudine+protease inhibitors: 1 patient; 18 patients were lost in the follow-up). After starting antiretroviral therapy, the resistance analyses detected the existence of primary resistance to antiretrovirals in 12.7% (confidence interval 95%: 3-22) of the patients, distributed as follows: isolated resistance to, nucleosides was detected in 2% (M184V), to nevirapine/efavirenz in 9% (K103N), and combined resistance to nucleosides and non-nucleosides in 2%; there were no cases of resistance to protease inhibitors. Consequently, antiretroviral therapy was changed in 5 (14%) out of 35 patients, attaining an undetectable HIV viral load at 6 months in all of them. The primary resistance to antiretrovirals was not related with epidemiological, virological (including infection by non B subtype) or immunological variables.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, a change in the epidemiological pattern of de novo diagnosis of HIV infection in our area has been observed. The existence of resistance mutations in more than 5% of the new cases is noteworthy. This finding must be considered in order to establish the rules of empirical treatment in our area.