title: Evaluation of Subcutaneous Proleukin (interleukin-2) in a Randomized International Trial (ESPRIT): geographical and gender differences in the baseline characteristics of participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ESPRIT, is a phase III, open-label, randomized, international clinical trial evaluating the effects of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) plus antiretroviral therapy (ART) versus ART alone on HIV-disease progression and death in HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4+ T-cells > or =300 cells/microL.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the baseline characteristics of participants randomized to ESPRIT overall and by geographic location.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline characteristics of randomized participants were summarized by region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4,150 patients were enrolled in ESPRIT from 254 sites in 25 countries. 41%, 27%, 16%, 11%, and 5% were enrolled in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia, respectively. The median age was 40 years, 81% were men, and 76%, 11%, and 9% were Caucasian, Asian, and African American or African, respectively. 44% of women enrolled (n = 769) were enrolled in Thailand and Argentina. Overall, 55% and 38% of the cohort acquired HIV through male homosexual and heterosexual contact, respectively. 25% had a prior history of AIDS-defining illness; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, M. tuberculosis, and esophageal candida were most commonly reported. Median nadir and baseline CD4+ T-cell counts were 199 and 458 cells/muL, respectively. 6% and 13% were hepatitis B or C virus coinfected, respectively. Median duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 4.2 years; the longest median duration was in Australia (5.2 years) and the shortest was in Asia (2.3 years). 17%, 13%, and 69% of participants began ART before 1995, between 1996 and 1997, and from 1998 onward, respectively. 86% used ART from two or more ART classes, with 49% using a protease inhibitor-based regimen and 46% using a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. 78% had plasma HIV RNA below detection (<500 cp/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESPRIT has enrolled a diverse population of HIV-infected individuals including large populations of women and patients of African-American/African and Asian ethnicity often underrepresented in HIV research. As a consequence, the results of the study may have wide global applicability.
authors.affiliation: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. spett@nchecr.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pett
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arduino
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knysz
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tambussi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C082598:aldesleukin