title: Long-term observation of adolescents initiating HAART therapy: three-year follow-up.
abstract: The PACTG 381 cohort included 120 adolescents infected via high-risk behaviors and treated with at least two NRTIs plus either a protease inhibitor or an efavirenz-containing HAART regimen. After 24 weeks of therapy, only 69 of 118 (59%) evaluable subjects had undetectable viral loads. We now present findings of the study after 3 years of follow-up. Virologic, immunologic, and treatment information were collected from subjects every 12 weeks beyond the first 24 weeks of therapy through 156 weeks. Of the 120 subjects starting HAART, 44 (37%) stayed on study treatment for the 3 years of observation. Twenty-nine (24%) subjects reached and maintained undetectable viral loads. Poorer adherence (p = 0.016), higher baseline viral load (p = 0.010), and CD8 naive counts (p = 0.034) predicted virologic failure. Immunologic measurements improved from entry to the end of follow-up in the subjects with undetectable viral loads. CD4 counts at the end of study were not significantly different from HIV-uninfected youth, but CD4%, CD8 counts and percent, and CD8 activation markers remained significantly different. Adolescents infected with HIV via high-risk behaviors have less than optimal responses to HAART therapy with only 24% achieving and maintaining undetectable viral loads over 3 years. Immunologic improvement was demonstrated and CD4 counts in subjects with virologic control reached levels in HIV-uninfected adolescents. Interventions, especially those focused on adherence, are necessary to improve HAART outcomes in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. pat.flynn@stjude.org
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Bret J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rudy
authors.forename: Jane C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lathey
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silio
authors.forename: Marvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belzer
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019562:Viral Load