Nephrotoxicity during tenofovir treatment: a three-year follow-up study in a Brazilian reference clinic

Abstract In this study, 275 patients in use of tenofovir were retrospectively followed-up for three years to evaluate risk factors involved in impaired renal function. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were used to verify any differences in creatinine levels and estimated clearance at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, adjusting for the co-variables sex, skin color, age >50 years, arterial hypertension, diabetes and the use of the ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/r) lopinavir/r or atazanavir/r. The software package STATISTICA 10® was used for statistical analysis. The patients’ mean age was 43.2 ± 10.7 years. Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and diabetes were found in 20.4% and 8.7% of the patients, respectively. Overall, 96.7% were on tenofovir associated with lamivudine (TDF + 3TC), 39.3% on lopinavir/r, 29.8% on efavirenz, and 17.6% on atazanavir/r. There was a statistically significant difference in estimated creatinine clearance at 24 months, when the co-variables male (F = 3.95; p = 0.048), SAH (F = 6.964; p = 0.009), and age over 50 years (F = 45.81; p < 0.001) were taken into consideration. Analysis of the co-variable use of atazanavir/r showed a tendency toward an increased risk over time (F = 2.437; p = 0.063); however, no significant time interaction was seen. At 36-month, a statistically significant difference was found for age over 50 years, (F = 32.02; p < 0.05) and there was a significant time-by-sex interaction (F = 3.117; p = 0.0149). TDF was discontinued in 12 patients, one because of a femoral neck fracture (0.7%) and 11 due to nephrotoxicity (4%). Of these latter cases, 9/11 patients were also using protease inhibitors. These data strongly alert that tenofovir use should be individualized with careful attention to renal function especially in male patients, over 50 years, with SAH, and probably those on ATV/r.

Evaluation of inadequate anti-retroviral treatment in patients with HIV/AIDS / Avaliação do uso inadequado de antirretrovirais no tratamento de pacientes com HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION: Since the emergence of antiretroviral therapy, the survival of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus has increased. Non-adherence to this therapy is directly related to treatment failure, which allows the emergence of resistant viral strains. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study of the antiretroviral dispensing records of 229 patients from the Center for Health Care, University Hospital, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, was conducted between January and December 2009. RESULTS: The study aimed to evaluate patient compliance and determine if there was an association between non-adherence and the therapy. Among these patients, 63.8% were men with an average age of 44.0 ± 9.9 years. The most used treatment was a combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (55.5%) or with 2 protease inhibitors (28.8%). It was found that patients taking lopinavir/ritonavir with zidovudine and lamivudine had a greater frequency of inadequate treatment than those taking atazanavir with zidovudine and lamivudine (85% and 83.3%, respectively). Moreover, when the combination of zidovudine/ lamivudine was used, the patients were less compliant (χ2 = 4.468, 1 degree of freedom, p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients failed to correctly adhere to their treatment; therefore, it is necessary to implement strategies that lead to improved compliance, thus ensuring therapeutic efficacy and increased patient survival.

INTRODUÇÃO: A partir do surgimento da terapia antirretroviral, o paciente soropositivo teve sua sobrevida aumentada. A não adesão a essa terapia está relacionada diretamente à falência terapêutica, a qual propicia o aparecimento de cepas virais mais resistentes. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo dos registros de dispensação de antirretrovirais de 229 pacientes do Centro de Atenção à Saúde do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2009. RESULTADOS: Tal estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a adesão do paciente ao tratamento e se houve associação entre a não adesão e a terapêutica. Desses pacientes, 63,8% eram do sexo masculino e apresentavam idade média de 44,0 ± 9,9 anos. Foram realizados 28 esquemas terapêuticos diferentes. Dentre esses, os mais utilizados foram aqueles que combinavam 2 inibidores da transcriptase reversa análogos de nucleosídeos/nucleotídeos com 1 inibidor da transcriptase reversa não análogo de nucleosídeo (55,5%) ou com 2 inibidores de protease (28,8%). Foi verificado que os pacientes em uso de lopinavir/ritonavir ou atazanavir associados à zidovudina e lamivudina apresentaram maiores frequências de tratamento considerado inadequado (85% e 83,3%, respectivamente). Além disso, quando a combinação zidovudina/lamivudina esteve presente no esquema medicamentoso, os pacientes aderiram menos ao tratamento (χ2 = 4,468; grau de liberdade = 1; p = 0,035). CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes realizava tratamento considerado inadequado. Portanto, é necessário implementar estratégias que conduzam à melhoria da adesão ao tratamento, a fim de garantir eficácia terapêutica e aumento da sobrevida do paciente.

A reduced dose of darunavir/ritonavir is effective in PI-experienced HIV-infected patients

Darunavir (DRV) is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor that is used together with a low boosting dose of ritonavir as part of an antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen in treatment-experienced and naïve HIVpositive patients. In naïve and experienced patients with no DRV-mutations, DRV is licensed at the dose of 800 mg plus 100 mg of ritonavir once daily. We report our results in seven ART-experienced HIV-infected patients, in whom a reduced dose of darunavir/ritonavir (600/100 mg once daily) successfully controlled viral replication.

Lopinavir/ritonavir dosing during pregnancy in Brazil and maternal/infant laboratory abnormalities

OBJECTIVES: To describe laboratory abnormalities among HIV-infected women and their infants with standard and increased lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) dosing during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: We evaluated data on pregnant women from NISDI cohorts (2002-2009) enrolled in Brazil, who received at least 28 days of LPV/r during the third pregnancy trimester and gave birth to singleton infants. RESULTS: 164 women received LPV/r standard dosing [(798/198 or 800/200 mg/day) (Group 1)] and 70 increased dosing [(> 800/200 mg/day) (Group 2)]. Group 1 was more likely to have advanced clinical disease and to use ARVs for treatment, and less likely to have CD4 counts > 500 cells/mm³. Mean plasma viral load was higher in Group 2. There were statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful, differences between groups in mean AST, ALT, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The proportion of women with Grade 3 or 4 adverse events was very low, with no statistically significant differences between groups in severe adverse events related to ALT, AST, total bilirubin, cholesterol, or triglycerides. There were statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful, differences between infant groups in ALT and creatinine. The proportion of infants with Grade 3 or 4 adverse events was very low, and there were no statistically significant differences in severe adverse events related to ALT, AST, BUN, or creatinine. CONCLUSION: The proportions of women and infants with severe laboratory adverse events were very low. Increased LPV/r dosing during the third trimester of pregnancy appears to be safe for HIV-infected women and their infants.

Nuevos y viejos anti-retrovirales en pediatría: Nuevas dosis, presentaciones y asociaciones / New and “old” antiretroviral drugs in Pediatrics: New doses, formulations and associations

De los 25 anti-retrovirales disponibles en el mercado, sólo 16 están autorizados en la edad pediátrica. Los antiretrovirales, pertenecientes a las tres primeras familias, usados desde hace dos décadas, continúan vigentes y son parte importante de la terapia anti-retroviral en niños naïve. Se describen las dosis, presentaciones y asociaciones actuales de estos fármacos en la edad pediátrica y además se comentan las nuevas co-formulaciones que permitirán disminuir el número de dosis, mejorar la tolerancia y por lo tanto conseguir mejor adherencia de los pacientes pediátricos.

Of the 25 antiretroviral drugs available in the market, only 16 are allowed for prescription in the pediatric patients. The antiretroviral, pertaining to the first three families, used for two decades, remain valid and are important components of antiretroviral therapy in naive children. We describe doses, presentations and current associations for these drugs in children, and also discuss new co-formulations that will reduce the number of doses, improve tolerance and therefore achieve better adherence of pediatric patients.

The Place of protease inhibitors in antiretroviral treatment

With the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, a number of drugs have been developed. The best choice concerning which antiretroviral analogs to start is always under discussion, especially in the choice between non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-based therapies and ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors. Both are proven to control viral replication and lead to immunological gain. The choice between a non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a protease inhibitor as a third antiretroviral drug in the therapy should consider factors related to the individual, as well as the inclusion of the best therapy in the patient's daily activities and potential adherence. The protease inhibitor-based therapies showed similar efficacy among the various inhibitors with characteristics concerning the adverse events from each medicine. For the treatment of protease-resistant patients, darunavir and tipranavir showed good efficacy with higher genetic barrier to resistance.

Two Cases of Multidrug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Treated with Atazanavir and Lopinavir/Ritonavir Combination Therapy

The combination of atazanavir (ATV) and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) has been used as a salvage regimen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. In this paper, we discuss two cases of HIV-positive patients who had long histories of virological failure following a heavy treatment of antiretroviral drugs, but then achieved virological suppression with double-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) regimens. In patients with multiple genotypic resistance to PIs and NRTIs, virological suppression can be achieved with a combination of ATV plus LPV/RTV with an NRTI backbone. The two cases in this report suggest that a combination of ATV plus LPV/RTV could be a useful salvage regimen for the subset of HIV-positive patients with limited treatment options.

Dyslipidaemia associated with the highly active antiretroviral therapy in aids patient: reversion after switching (stavudine to tenofovir and lopinavir/ritonavir to atazanavir/ritonavir)

Antiretroviral therapy has been associated with hyperlipidemia in AIDS patients. This case illustrates the classic metabolic effects associated to the HAART including protease inhibitors and/or stavudine. It was showed that the management of the HAART-associated dyslipidaemia with conventional antihyperlipidemic therapy may fail, being the switching strategy the best option.

The efficacy of combined zidovudine and lamivudine compared with that of combined zidovudine, lamivudine and nelfinavir in asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV-infected children.

In this 6-month prospective study, we compared the efficacy of two treatment regimens: double-drug therapy with zidovudine (ZDV) and lamivudine (3TC) and triple-drug therapy with ZDV plus 3TC plus nelfinavir (NFV), in the treatment of asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV-infected children. Twenty-five children were enrolled in this study and were divided into 2 groups: group A, consisting of 13 children who were given ZDV+3TC; group B, consisting of 12 children who were given ZDV+3TC+NFV. Serial determinations of weight, CD4-cell count, HIV RNA or plasma viral load (VL) and complete blood counts (CBC), liver function tests (LFT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests, creatinine and serum amylase tests were performed at study entry and at 1, 3 and 6 months. The side-effects of drugs were recorded. Over the 6-month period, the median weight increase in group B (24%) was higher than in group A (2%). The median CD4-cell count increase from baseline in group B (94.5%) was better than in group A (9.4%). The reduction of VL below baseline in group B (1.2 log10; 20.8%) was also better than in group A (0.72 log10; 13.8%). However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Both combination regimens could not completely suppress HIV RNA below detectable limits (<400 copies/ml). Both groups tolerated the regimens well; no side-effects or toxicities occurred. The efficacy levels of triple-drug therapy (ZDV+3TC+NFV) and double-drug therapy (ZDV+3TC) were not different. There were no side-effects and no deaths during the 6-month study period.

A randomized, open-label, comparative trial of BID and TID dosing of saquinavir enhanced oral formulation as part of a triple therapy for advanced AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of 1,400 mg BID and 1,200 mg TID of saquinavir soft gel given with zidovudine and lamivudine in antiretroviral-naïve, advanced AIDS patients. METHOD: A randomized, open-label study conducted at a university hospital. RESULTS: Forty cases were enrolled in the study, 20 cases in each group. The mean CD4 cell count was 29 cells/mm3. The mean log10 HIV-1 RNA was 5.27 copies/mL. Using an on-treatment analysis, the reduction in plasma log10HIV-1 RNA of BID and TID groups was not statistically significant at -2.44 vs -2.60 copies/mL (-0.16, 95% CI -0.63 to 0.30; p= 0.48). The mean increase in CD4 cell counts was not statistically significant at +144 and +159 cells/mm3 (11, 95% CI -75 to 97; p=0.79). CONCLUSION: The preliminary data suggests that in antiretroviral-naïve, advanced AIDS patients, 1,400 mg BID of saquinavir soft gel given with two nucleoside analogues might be as effective as the standard 1,200 mg TID.