Impact of the highly active antiretroviral therapy era on the epidemiology of primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia.
BACKGROUND
Primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia (PHAT) typically improves with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); however, cases continue to occur. Data comparing the epidemiology of PHAT between the pre-HAART and HAART eras are limited. We retrospectively examined the incidence of PHAT over 28 years in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) from 1986 to 2013.


RESULTS
Subjects had a nadir platelet count <100 × 10(9)/l with no other identifiable cause. Time periods were categorized as pre-HAART (1986-1995), early HAART (1996-2001), and later HAART (2002-2013). Incidence, demographic data, and CD4 count were compared across the three eras. A generalized estimating equations model was used to assess any association of platelet count and HIV viral load in cases diagnosed during the HAART eras. 218 participants met the case definition. 86.2 % of cases occurred prior to 2002. The incidence of PHAT per 1000 person-years of follow-up was 16.3, 4.6, and 1.9 during pre-HAART, early HAART and later HAART eras respectively. CD4 cell counts were significantly higher in the HAART eras at the time of thrombocytopenia (p < 0.001). Of patients diagnosed after 1996, 96.4 % were viremic within six months preceding the platelet nadir and over half were antiretroviral naïve. Viral load (per log10 copies/ml) inversely correlated with platelet count throughout the HAART eras (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of PHAT has markedly decreased in the HAART era. However, viremic individuals, including those with healthy CD4 cell counts, may be at risk. Achieving viral suppression as early as possible may decrease the incidence further.
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. thomas.a.obryan2.ctr@mail.mil.|Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. thomas.a.obryan2.ctr@mail.mil.|Infectious Disease Service, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78258, USA. thomas.a.obryan2.ctr@mail.mil.
Thomas A
TA
O'Bryan
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. jason.f.okulicz.mil@mail.mil.|Infectious Disease Service, San Antonio Military Medical Center, 3551 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78258, USA. jason.f.okulicz.mil@mail.mil.
Jason F
JF
Okulicz
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. cbradley@idcrp.org.|Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. cbradley@idcrp.org.
William P
WP
Bradley
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. anuradha.ganesan.ctr@mail.mil.|Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. anuradha.ganesan.ctr@mail.mil.|Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA. anuradha.ganesan.ctr@mail.mil.
Anuradha
A
Ganesan
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. xwang@idcrp.org.|Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. xwang@idcrp.org.
Xun
X
Wang
Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA. bagan@idcrp.org.|Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA. bagan@idcrp.org.
Brian K
BK
Agan
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology