Evaluation of a 6-year highly active antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV-1-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of nevirapine (NVP)-based regimens in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Chinese patients in routine clinical practice.


METHODS
From October 2002 to May 2004, 57 HIV-1-infected patients commenced antiretroviral therapy (ART), and were followed up to December 2008. These antiretroviral-naïve patients, who originally received two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and NVP, had HIV RNA levels, T lymphocyte subsets and safety parameters assessed over 6 years.


RESULTS
Of the 57 patients, 34 patients participated in the long-term follow-up. After 5-6 years, >60% of the patients had HIV RNA levels <50 copies/microl, and the median increase in CD4 cell counts from baseline was 329 cells/microl. gamma-Glutamyl transferase increased in 17 patients (29.8%); serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were elevated in 15 patients (26.3%), and 25.0% (6/24) of the patients developed lipodystrophy (mainly females). Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 3 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
ART with NVP-based regimens suppressed HIV viremia and produced continued CD4 cell increases in a majority of subjects for 6 years. Safety and tolerance were good with no unexpected long-term toxicity. Though based on a small group, this study demonstrates durable effects of ART in Chinese patients.
Zhou
Hua-Ying
HY
AIDS Research Laboratory, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Zheng
Yu-Huang
YH
He
Yan
Y
Chen
Zi
Z
Liu
Meng
M
Yin
Wei
W
Liu
Chun
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019829:Nevirapine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase