Evolution of HIV resistance mutations in patients maintained on a stable treatment regimen after virologic failure.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the rate of emergence of thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs) and major protease inhibitor mutations in adherent patients who remained on stable treatment with a thymidine analogue and/or protease inhibitor after the onset of virologic failure.


METHODS
Follow-up genotypic resistance testing was done using archived plasma obtained from patients having 0 or 1 TAM and/or 0 or 1 major protease inhibitor resistance mutation at the onset of virologic failure.


RESULTS
The median duration of observed failure was 691 days. There were 41 thymidine analogue regimens and 34 protease inhibitor regimens; concomitant ritonavir was used 4 times. New major protease inhibitor mutations emerged more rapidly than did new TAMs (P = 0.0019); new TAMs emerged more rapidly in thymidine analogue regimens that did not include lamivudine (P = 0.0073). The emergence of TAMs and major protease inhibitor mutations did not differ if lamivudine was not part of the thymidine analogue regimen. The evolution of CD4 cell counts and plasma viral loads (pVLs) during virologic failure was similar regardless of whether or not a new TAM or major protease inhibitor mutations emerged or, for thymidine analogue-containing regimens, whether lamivudine was or was not used.


CONCLUSIONS
Major protease inhibitor mutations arose more frequently and rapidly than did TAMs in patients with sustained virologic failure who received lamivudine.
Goetz
Matthew Bidwell
MB
Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. matthew.goetz@va.gov
Ferguson
Monique R
MR
Han
Xueliang
X
McMillan
Greg
G
St Clair
Marty
M
Pappa
Keith A
KA
McClernon
Daniel R
DR
O'Brien
William A
WA
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005075:Biological Evolution; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents