Comparative study of antiretroviral drug regimens and drug-drug interactions between younger and older HIV-infected patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Korea

Early Antiretroviral Therapy in AIDS Patients Presenting With Toxoplasma gondii Encephalitis Is Associated With More Sequelae but Not Increased Mortality

Background

Evidence on the optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the presence of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is scarce. We compared the impact of early vs. delayed ART initiation on mortality and neurologic complications at discharge in a Brazilian population co-infected with HIV and TE.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data from 9 years of hospitalizations at a referral center in Manaus, Amazonas. All ART-naïve hospitalized patients were divided into early initiation treatment (EIT) (0-4 weeks) and delayed initiation treatment (DIT) (>4 weeks). The groups were compared using chi-square test and mortality at 16 weeks.

Results

Four hundred sixty nine patients were included, of whom 357 (76.1%) belonged to the EIT group. The median CD4⁺ lymphocyte count and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were 53 cells/mm³ and 0.09, respectively. Mortality rate and presence of sequelae were 4.9% (n = 23) and 41.6% (n = 195), respectively. Mortality was similar between groups (p = 0.18), although the EIT group had the highest prevalence of sequelae at discharge (p = 0.04). The hazard ratio for death at 16 weeks with DIT was 2.3 (p = 0.18). The necessity for intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were similar between groups.

Conclusion

In patients with AIDS and TE, early ART initiation might have a detrimental influence on the occurrence of sequelae.

Nanotechnology in reproductive medicine: Opportunities for clinical translation

In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionized global healthcare and has been predicted to exert a remarkable effect on clinical medicine. In this context, the clinical use of nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and the management of infertility and other pathologies linked to pubertal development, menopause, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has substantial promise to fill the existing lacunae in reproductive healthcare. Of late, a number of clinical trials involving the use of nanoparticles for the early detection of reproductive tract infections and cancers, targeted drug delivery, and cellular therapeutics have been conducted. However, most of these trials of nanoengineering are still at a nascent stage, and better synergy between pharmaceutics, chemistry, and cutting-edge molecular sciences is needed for effective translation of these interventions from bench to bedside. To bridge the gap between translational outcome and product development, strategic partnerships with the insight and ability to anticipate challenges, as well as an in-depth understanding of the molecular pathways involved, are highly essential. Such amalgamations would overcome the regulatory gauntlet and technical hurdles, thereby facilitating the effective clinical translation of these nano-based tools and technologies. The present review comprehensively focuses on emerging applications of nanotechnology, which holds enormous promise for improved therapeutics and early diagnosis of various human reproductive tract diseases and conditions.

The Challenge of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions Among People Living With HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Selected Provinces in China

Objectives

Potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are a significant therapeutic threat among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals on antiretroviral (ARV) medications. DDIs involving ARV drugs in mainland China are unknown and insufficiently described. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and frequencies of potential ARV DDIs in Chinese people living with HIV (PLWH), then we assessed the risk factors associated with potential DDIs.

Methods

This study was conducted with HIV-positive adults undergoing ARV medications from multiple centers across China. The latest prescription of each participant was evaluated for potential DDIs using the Liverpool HIV drug interaction database. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate the factors associated with DDIs.

Results

Among 600 PLWH recruited, at least one non-HIV co-medication was observed in 511 (85.2%) individuals. A total of 2566 DDIs were identified, of which 11 (0.43%) and 311 (12.89%) were of contraindicated (red-flags) and dosage/timing adjustment required (orange-flags), respectively. Multivariate regression analysis revealed a higher risk of clinically significant DDIs (red- and orange-flagged comedication) associated with: the use of boosted protease inhibitors (p < 0.0001), boosted integrase strand transfer inhibitors (p < 0.0001), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-based ARV regimen (p < 0.0001); or the use of antiinfectives for systemic use (p < 0.0001), cardiovascular system drugs (p < 0.0001), nervous system drugs (p < 0.0001), fungal infection (p = 0.0071), and Herpes simplex virus infection (p = 0.0231).

Conclusions

Potential DDIs and inappropriate medications constitute a burden for people living with HIV in China. The knowledge of DDIs patterns and the scan for DDIs is crucial. Indeed, they can help to prevent drug-related adverse outcomes in such immunodeficient population.

The influence of age-associated comorbidities on responses to combination antiretroviral therapy in older people living with HIV

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 < 0.001). However, the multivariate model showed that age-related comorbidities were not significant factors for virological failure (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.74, p = 0.07). There were 391 immunological failures, with an incidence of 2.75/100 person-years. On multivariate analysis, those aged <50 years without comorbidities (p = 0.025) and age <50 years with comorbidities (p = 0.001) were less likely to develop immunological failure compared to those aged ≥50 years with comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

In our Asia regional cohort, age-associated comorbidities did not affect virologic outcomes of cART. Among those with comorbidities, patients <50 years old showed a better CD4 response.