Chinese pediatric highly active antiretroviral therapy observational cohort: a 1-year analysis of clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Few data are available on the outcomes of pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the developing world.


METHODS
Eighty-three children were followed prospectively in China from July 2005 to August 2006 and received (zidovudine or stavudine) plus lamivudine plus (nevirapine or efavirenz).


RESULTS
Fifty-one children were ART naive at enrollment, and 32 were ART experienced. After 12 months, median weight increased by 0.3 weight for age z-score, median CD4 count increased from 116 to 340 cells/mm (P < 0.0001), and median viral load decreased from 5.53 to <2.60 log10 copies/mL (P < 0.0001) in the previously ART-naive children. In the ART-experienced children, median CD4 count increased from 193 to 318 cells/mm (P = 0.13), despite little change in median viral load (4.85 to 4.58 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.83). The viral load was <400 copies/mL in 55% of the previously ART-naive children and in 16% of the ART-experienced children.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight and CD4 cell counts improved, and more than half of previously ART-naive patients had undetectable viral loads at 1 year. Future efforts should focus on improved virologic suppression through improved adherence and access to second-line regimens.
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS, Division of Treatment and Care, Beijing, China. treatment@chinaaids.cn
Fujie
F
Zhang
Jessica E
JE
Haberer
Yan
Y
Zhao
Zhihui
Z
Dou
Hongxin
H
Zhao
Yun
Y
He
Guang Hua
GH
Cao
D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001835:Body Weight; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents