title: [Therapeutic effect and safety evaluation on 6-year highly active antiretroviral therapy for Chinese HIV-1 infected patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of nevirapine (NVP)-based regimens for HIV-infected Chinese patients in routine clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2002 to May 2004, 57 HIV-1-infected patients commenced highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and were followed to December 2008. They originally received 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and nevirapine. HIV RNA levels, T lymphocyte subsets and safety were assessed. Blood routine test and main laboratory parameter changes were traced. If apparent side effects or virological failure appeared we would, if necessary, terminate the therapy or change the regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 57 subjects, 34 were followed-up for more than 4 years. After 5-6 years, 63.3% of the subjects (19/30) had HIV RNA levels<50 copies/microL, and the median increase in CD4(+) cell count from the baseline was 329 cells/microL. The mean decrease in CD8(+) cell count was 128 cells/microL. At the same time, the CD4(+) CD45RA+CD62L cell count and CD4(+)CD45RO(+) cell gradually increased, and the counts of CD8(+)CD38(+) cell declined gradually. These changes are apparent 2 years after HAART. The increase rate slowed down after 2 years. But they did not recover completely as well as healthy people at year 6. About 56% (32/57) of HIV-infected patients developed various drug-related side effects. The most common was gastrointestinal side effect, followed nervous disorder, baldness, and rashes, mostly happened in 6 months. Gamma-GT increased occurred in 29.8% of patients (17/57), and serum cholesterol and triglyceride elevated in 26.3% of the patients (15/57). Six patients developed lipodystrophy, mainly in female patients, and 25 patients showed abnormal blood picture and liver function, renal function changes and amylase elevation. Grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 3 cases (2 peripheral neuropathy, and 1 suspected lactic acidosis). One subject experienced grade 3 rashes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antiretroviral therapy with NVP-based regimens is safe and effective by suppressing HIV viremia and producing continued CD4 cell increases in subjects with HIV or AIDS for 6 years.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Research Laboratory, Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Huaying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuhuang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Guozhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002681:China; D016049:Didanosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018119:Stavudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019829:Nevirapine; D018119:Stavudine; D016049:Didanosine