title: Switching from protease inhibitor-based-HAART to a protease inhibitor-sparing regimen is associated with improved specific HIV-immune responses in HIV-infected children.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of switching from successful long-term protease inhibitor (PI)-based HAART to a three nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor PI-sparing regimen, viral load quantification, HIV-specific lymphoproliferative assay and T-cell receptor (TCR) spectratyping were performed during 96 weeks of simplification follow-up in 19 HIV-infected children. Our data showed that simplification of therapeutic strategies acts positively on immune competence in HIV paediatric patients. Our children maintained viral suppression, increased lymphoproliferative responses and normalized TCRBV repertoire on the CD8 subset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pensieroso
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Romiti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castelli-Gattinara
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Freda
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cancrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors