title: Treatment outcomes of patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis who received a nevirapine-based antiretroviral regimen: a four-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concurrent use of nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) and rifampin-containing anti-tuberculosis regimens for the treatment of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) is common in resource-limited countries. Long-term outcomes of this concurrent treatment are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy HIV-infected patients receiving rifampin for active TB (TB group) and 70 HIV-mono-infected patients (control group) were enrolled to receive nevirapine 400mg/day-based ART. All were followed through 4 years of ART. Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 cell counts were monitored every 12 weeks until 96 weeks, and every 24 weeks thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 140 patients, the median (interquartile range (IQR)) CD4 count was 31 (14-79) cells/mm(3) and median (IQR) plasma HIV-1 RNA was 5.6 (5.2-5.9) log copies/ml at baseline . Thirty-nine (55.7%) patients in the TB group were diagnosed with extrapulmonary/disseminated TB. The median duration of concurrent administration of nevirapine and rifampin was 5.4 (4.6-6.1) months. By intention-to-treat analysis, the percentage of patients who achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml was 52.9% in the TB group and 50% in control group (p=0.866; odds ratio 1.121, 95% confidence interval 0.578-2.176); median (IQR) CD4 counts were 352 (271-580) cells/mm(3) and 425 (308-615) cells/mm(3) in the corresponding groups (p=0.238). The proportion of ART discontinuation due to any reason at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years was 21%, 34%, 37%, and 46% in the TB group and 21%, 36%, 43%, and 49% in the control group, respectively (p=0.651). The 4-year mortality rate was 6.4% in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nevirapine-based ART is an option for HIV-infected patients who receive rifampin in resource-limited countries or those who cannot tolerate efavirenz.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Tiwanon Road, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand. drweerawat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Weerawat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Manosuthi
authors.forename: Preecha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tantanathip
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chimsuntorn
authors.forename: Boonchuay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eampokarap
authors.forename: Supeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thongyen
authors.forename: Samruay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilkamhang
authors.forename: Somnuek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sungkanuparph
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019829:Nevirapine; D012293:Rifampin