title: Comparison of the epidemiology, profile of mutations, and clinical response to antiretrovirals among subtypes B and F of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
abstract: The authors compared demographic aspects and profile of mutations in 80 patients with subtypes B and F of human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1). Genotyping of the pol region of the reverse transcriptase was performed using the ViroSeq Genotyping System. A total of 61 (76.2%) patients had subtype B and 19 (23.8%) subtype F of the HIV-1. Subtype F tended to be more frequent in heterosexuals and women with a low educational level, but without statistical significance. The frequency of mutations related to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors (PI) was the same in the two subtypes, but mutations related to PI at the codons 63, 77, and 71 were more frequent in subtype B, while mutations at the codons 36 and 20 predominated in subtype F. Sixty-two of the 80 patients infected with subtypes B and F were submitted to antiretroviral therapy for an average of 18-22 months. Undetectable viral loads at the end of follow-up were similar in the two groups, representing 63.8% of subtype B and 73.3% of subtype F (p = 0.715). CD4 lymphocyte counts before and after treatment were similar in the two groups. This study, despite pointing to possible epidemiological and genetic differences among subtypes B and F of HIV-1, suggests that the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy is equally effective against these subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Moraes Rego, s/no, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brasil. helramos@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Heloisa Ramos
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Luzidalva Barbosa de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Ana Maria Salustiano
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Ricardo Arraes de Alencar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ximenes
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Pessoa Militão de
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000235:genetics*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D016333:HIV Protease