title: Virologic and immunologic outcomes and programmatic challenges of an antiretroviral treatment pilot project in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Côbte d'Ivoire, a pilot project was developed by UNAIDS and the Ministry of Health to improve access to AIDS care, including antiretroviral therapy, for adults and children infected with HIV. This evaluation of the project is the first to provide results of a large number of HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in West Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated records of persons who presented for care from August 1998 to August 2000 at six accredited centers in Abidjan. Patients were treated with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (2NRTI) or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2878 patients who were screened, 2351 (83%) were HIV-infected and eligible (CD4 T lymphocyte count < 500 x 10(6) cells/l or plasma HIV-RNA level > 10 000 copies/ml) for antiretroviral therapy. Of those who were eligible, 81% were symptomatic, 63% had a CD4 cell count < 200 x 10(6) cells/l, 12% had previously taken antiretroviral drugs, and 56% returned to the clinic for follow-up. Of the patients screened, 768 (27%) were started on antiretroviral therapy, including 450 on HAART, 296 on 2NRTI, and 22 on other regimens. We analyzed data from 480 HIV-1-infected adults, who were naive to therapy, were prescribed HAART or 2NRTI, and had at least one clinic visit after starting therapy. In an intent-to-treat analysis of patients who received HAART, the estimated plasma HIV-1 RNA level was approximately 1.9 log10 copies/ml (80-fold) lower, while estimated CD4 cell count was > 100 x 10(6) cells/l higher than baseline values, after 1 year of therapy. Approximately 25% of adults on 2NRTI and 50% of those on HAART had < 200 copies/ml, after 1 year of therapy. The probability of an adverse event occurring within 6 months after starting therapy was 0.20. The probability of survival for at least 1 year was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.89).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After starting antiretroviral therapy, these HIV-1-infected patients in West Africa had similar virologic and immunologic outcomes, probability of an adverse event, and estimated survival, as patients enrolled in clinical trials in the USA and Europe. However, only one-third of eligible patients received therapy, highlighting the importance of providing adequate education and support for initiating and adhering to therapy in this and similar programmes.
authors.affiliation: Projet RETRO-CI, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. gdjomand@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Djomand
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roels
authors.forename: Tedd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ellerbrock
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diomande
authors.forename: Bondo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maurice
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nkengasong
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konan-Koko
authors.forename: Auguste
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadio
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiktor
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lackritz
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chorba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors