Efficacy and safety of switching to dolutegravir plus emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/TDF in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients in clinical practice: results from a multicentre, observational study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of switching antiretroviral therapy to dolutegravir + emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with those of switching to elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/TDF in clinical practice.

METHODS

In a multicentre real-life observational study, we analysed data for HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment with viral load < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL switching to dolutegravir + emtricitabine/TDF (dolutegravir group) or elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/TDF (elvitegravir group). Follow-up was censored at 48 weeks.

RESULTS

The 48-week estimated proportion maintaining virological efficacy was 96.1% with dolutegravir (n = 123) and 95.4% with elvitegravir (n = 186; P = 0.941). Patients in the dolutegravir group showed more treatment discontinuations, but these were mainly as a result of simplification. The elvitegravir group showed more discontinuations because of renal adverse events (2.7% versus 0% with dolutegravir). Interestingly, no difference was observed between the two regimens in central nervous system toxicity-related discontinuations. Switching to dolutegravir was associated with a better blood lipid profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Switching to dolutegravir + emtricitabine/TDF was associated with similar efficacy and tolerability to switching to elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/TDF in virologically suppressed patients in clinical practice, although reasons for discontinuation showed differences between regimens. These results should be interpreted with caution, as this is a nonrandomized comparison.