title: Reduced risk of Efavirenz Discontinuation in Naïve Patients Starting First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy with Single Tablet versus dual Tablet Regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite not being approved in Europe as first-line therapy, the efavirenz (EFV)-containing single tablet regimen (STR) is frequently used in clinical practice in naïve patients but few data are available on this strategy. In our study, we aimed to assess the risk of EFV discontinuation in patients starting antiretroviral therapy with STR vs. nonSTR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicentre study retrospectively enrolling naïve patients starting EFV+TDF+FTC. Patients were followed from the time of treatment initiation to the discontinuation of the EFV-containing regimen, comparing STR vs. nonSTR. Two different analyses were performed: (A) nonSTR patients censored at the last observation (switch to STR not considered as the end of observation); (B) nonSTR patients censored at the time of switch to STR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 235 patients, of whom 74 (31.5%) directly started STR. Among patients starting nonSTR, 108 (67.1%) switched to STR after a median period of 6 months. Forty-four EFV discontinuations were observed (13 among STR vs. 31 among nonSTR patients). The overall estimated probability of discontinuation was 30% at 5 years, about half (14.8%) of these occurring during the first year. Analysis A did not show significant differences between STR and nonSTR regarding the probability of efavirenz discontinuation (19.9% vs. 24.7% at 5 years, P = 0.630). In contrast, Analysis B showed that the probability of EFV discontinuation was similar (8.3%) between STR and nonSTR patients up to 8 months. Thereafter, a significantly higher rate of discontinuation was observed in nonSTR patients (47.5% vs. 19.9% at 5 years, P = 0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that an early switch to STR during the first months of treatment could reduce the risk of EFV discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.|Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbiani
authors.affiliation: Viral Immunodeficiency Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccarelli
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infectious Dermatology, San Gallicano Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sterrantino
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Ettorre
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, S. Caterina Novella Hospital, Galatina (Lecce), Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mondi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borchi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Infectious Dermatology, San Gallicano Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Viral Immunodeficiency Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.|Infectious Diseases Unit, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Giambenedetto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013607:Tablets; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013607:Tablets; C098320:efavirenz
keywords: STR; adherence; cART; combination antiretroviral therapy; toxicity