title: Role of structured treatment interruption before a 5-drug salvage antiretroviral regimen: the Retrogene Study.
abstract: We evaluated the efficacy of a 5-drug salvage regimen, preceded by a 12-week, structured treatment interruption (STI), in 46 multidrug-treated, human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients with detectable viremia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a 5-drug salvage regimen immediately (noninterruption [NI] group; n=24 patients) or after 12 weeks of STI (interruption [I] group; n=22 patients). At week 48, 45% of patients in the I group and 46% of patients in the NI group had virus loads <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL (P=.619). No differences in CD4 cell counts were seen between groups at week 48 (P=.734). A complete reversion to wild-type genotype was detected in 35% of patients in the I group, but this phenomenon did not affect the virological response. The only overall baseline factor associated with ensuing virus suppression was a lower number of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-resistant mutations (relative risk, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.93; P=.021). A prior STI seems to confer no additional benefit to subsequent virological or immunological outcomes of a salvage regimen.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral