title: Plasma HIV-1 RNA to guide patient selection for antiretroviral therapy in resource-poor settings: efficiency related to active case finding.
abstract: Scaling up access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) requires eligibility criteria that safeguard treatment efficiency in resource-poor settings. We determined whether supply of HAART on the basis of plasma viral load testing could result in a stronger reduction of AIDS incidence as compared with CD4 count-driven strategies. Expected AIDS incidence rates corresponding to distinct HAART eligibility criteria were calculated by relying on risk parameters obtained through the Amsterdam cohort studies on HIV infection and AIDS. We modeled 2 different treatment settings derived from sub-Saharan African surveys. In a hospital-based setting, the reduction in the 1-year AIDS incidence is the same for any HAART administration rate if patients are selected on a single CD4 cell count criterion or on (additional) criteria for plasma HIV-1 RNA. In a community-based setting, where patients are identified at less advanced stages of infection, the reduction in the 1-year AIDS incidence is higher at particular HAART administration rates if patients are selected on criteria for plasma HIV-1 RNA rather than CD4 cell count. Plasma viral load testing can ensure a more efficient allocation of antiretroviral therapy but only when applied to a strategy of active case finding in the community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. h.bogaards@crucell.com
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bogaards
authors.forename: Gerrit Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Weverling
authors.forename: Aeilko H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zwinderman
authors.forename: Patrick M M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bossuyt
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003906:Developing Countries; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral