title: Evaluation of WHO Criteria for Viral Failure in Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings.
abstract: Our objective was to evaluate outcomes in patients with sustained viral suppression compared to those with episodes of viremia. Methods. In a prospective cohort of patients started on ART in Uganda and followed for 48 months, patients were categorized according to viral load (VL): (1) sustained-suppression: (VL ≤1,000 copies/mL) (2) VL 1,001-10,000, or (3) VL >10,000. Results. Fifty-Three (11.2%) and 84 (17.8%) patients had a first episode of intermediate and high viremia, respectively. Patients with sustained suppression had better CD4+ T cell count increases over time compared to viremic patients (P < .001). The majority of patients with viremia achieved viral suppression when the measurement was repeated. Only 39.6% of patients with intermediate and 19.1% with high viremia eventually needed to be switched to second line (P = .008). Conclusions. The use of at least one repeat measurement rather than a single VL measurement could avert from 60% to 80% of unnecessary switches.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castelnuovo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sempa
authors.forename: Kiragga N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Agnes
authors.forename: Moses R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kamya
authors.forename: Yukari C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Manabe