Development of HIV with drug resistance after CD4 cell count-guided structured treatment interruptions in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy after dual-nucleoside analogue treatment.
BACKGROUND
For patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, structured treatment interruption (STI) is an attractive alternative strategy to continuous treatment, particularly in resource-restrained settings, because it reduces both side effects and costs. One major concern, however, is the development of resistance to antiretroviral drugs that can occur during multiple cycles of starting and stopping therapy.


METHODS
HIV genotypic drug resistance was investigated in 20 HIV-infected Thai patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and CD4 cell count-guided STI after dual nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) treatment. Resistance was tested at the time of the switch from dual-NRTI treatment to HAART and when HAART was stopped during the last interruption.


RESULTS
After STI, one major drug-resistance mutation occurred (T215Y), and, in the 4 samples with preexisting major mutations (D67N [n=2], K70R [n=2], T215Y [n=2], and T215I [n=1]), the mutations disappeared. All mutations in the HIV protease gene were minor mutations already present, in most cases, before STI was started, and their frequency was not increased through STI, whereas the frequency of reverse-transcriptase gene mutations significantly decreased after the interruptions. After the 48-week study period, no patients had virological failure. Long-term follow-up (108 weeks) showed 1 case of virological failure in the STI arm and 1 in the continuous arm. No virological failure was seen in patients with major mutations.


CONCLUSIONS
Major HIV drug-resistance mutations were not induced through CD4 cell count-guided treatment interruptions in HIV-infected patients successfully treated with HAART after dual-NRTI therapy.
Nuesch
Reto
R
HIV Netherlands, Australia, Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ananworanich
Jintanat
J
Sirivichayakul
Sunee
S
Ubolyam
Sasiwimol
S
Siangphoe
Umaporn
U
Hill
Andrew
A
Cooper
David
D
Lange
Joep
J
Phanuphak
Praphan
P
Ruxrungtham
Kiat
K
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D017211:Treatment Failure; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents