Prompt and unavoidable requalification of ordinary hospital wards into a centralized department characterized by high-intensity treatment due to COVID-19 epidemic: the experience of Romano di Lombardia Hospital.

The Coronavirus epidemic quickly spread in Italy from China. In particular, it affected Bergamo province where Romano di Lombardia hospital is situated. Therefore, this hospital felt the urgency to requalify its activity in no time. It transformed itself into a unique centralized subintensive department to treat COVID-19 patients. The factors that made it possible to adequately face the stress due to patients' hospitalization were human resources and innovative elements to provide oxygen therapy. It is to underline that the logistic and methodological reality was not planned to cope with this emergency.

Brief Report: Hyperbilirubinemia Is Associated With a Decreased Risk of Carotid Atherosclerosis in HIV-Infected Patients on Virological Suppression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between total, direct, and indirect bilirubin and the presence of carotid lesions in a large sample of HIV-1-infected patients on virological suppression. DESIGN: Retrospective study on adult HIV-1-infected patients, with a carotid ultrasound (CUS) examination performed between January 2008 and August 2016, with HIV-RNA <50 copies per milliliter at CUS and without previous cardiovascular events. METHODS: Intima media thickness was measured in 4 segments: carotid common artery and bifurcation on the left and right sides. Carotid lesion was defined as an intima media thickness ≥1.5 mm in ≥1 region at CUS. Patients were classified as: normal if all bilirubin values before CUS were below the upper normal limit and with hyperbilirubinemia if ≥1 bilirubin value above upper normal limit before CUS was recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine whether hyperbilirubinemia showed association with the presence of ≥1 carotid lesion, after adjusting for confounding factors. RESULTS: Overall, 903 patients were evaluated, 511 with ≥1 and 392 without carotid lesions. At multivariate analysis, total [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.57 (0.36 to 0.90), P = 0.016] and indirect hyperbilirubinemia before CUS [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.62 (0.40 to 0.97), P = 0.036] were associated with a lower risk of carotid lesions in addition to younger age, negative hepatitis C virus antibodies, higher nadir CD4, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and no use of statin; no effect of atazanavir treatment on carotid lesions was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-1-treated patients, total or indirect hyperbilirubinemia was likely associated with the absence of carotid lesions.

Durability of switch regimens based on rilpivirine or on integrase inhibitors, both in association with tenofovir and emtricitabine, in HIV-infected, virologically suppressed patients.

BACKGROUND: Switch strategies based on rilpivirine/tenofovir/emtricitabine or on an integrase inhibitor (InSTI) plus tenofovir/emtricitabine have never been compared in randomized clinical trials. The main aim of the study was to investigate the durability of these two switch regimens in virologically suppressed, HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients who started rilpivirine or an InSTI (both with tenofovir and emtricitabine) with <50 HIV-RNA copies/mL and had at least one HIV-RNA assessed while receiving the study regimen. Virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive measurements of HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL. Treatment failure (TF) was define as either VF or discontinuation of any drug of the regimen. Durability was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by Log-rank test. Residual viremia was defined as any detectable HIV-RNA below 50 copies/mL, as assed by a real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-five patients (466 switched to a rilpivirine-, 209 switched to an InSTI-based regimen [18% dolutegravir, 39% raltegravir, 43% elvitegravir/cobicistat] were included in the analysis. The median (interquartile range, IQR) follow-up in the rilpivirine and in the InSTI group was 16.7 (8.8-22.2) and 10.4 (5.4-19.6) months. The 1-year cumulative probabilities (95%CI) of VF and TF were 0.97% (0.36%-2.62%) and 9.73% (7.21%-13.06%) in the rilpivirine group and 1.83% (0.57%-5.77%) and 8.75% (5.25%-14.4%) in the InSTI group, with no difference between groups (p = 0.328 and 0.209 for VF and TF). The proportion of time spent with residual viremia was comparable in the two groups (9% [IQR 0.5%-49%] and 17% [IQR 0.5%-50%] in the rilpivirine and in the InSTI group, p = 0.087). By the multivariable Cox regression model, TF was independently associated with being on therapy with a protease inhibitor vs. a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor at switch (AHR = 0.52; 95%CI = 0.31-0.90; p = 0.018), baseline total/HDL-cholesterol ratio (AHR = 1.19 per 0.5-units increments; 95%CI = 1.06-1.34; p = 0.004), baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (AHR = 0.78 per 10-units increments; 95%CI = 0.67-0.90; p = 0.001) and baseline hemoglobin (AHR = 0.78 per 1-unit increments; 95%CI = 0.64-0.94; p = 0.009), but not with treatment group (rilpivirine vs. InSTI). CONCLUSIONS: In our clinical practice, the durability of the two regimens was comparable and both showed a very low probability of VF.

Efficacy and safety of switching from branded to generic antiretrovirals in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of switching from branded to generic antiretrovirals in patients with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL. METHODS: Matched-cohort study of patients followed at a single clinical center. Since September 2014, all patients with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL who were receiving branded lamivudine or zidovudine/lamivudine or efavirenz were switched to the generic compound (switchers) and matched, in a ratio 1:1, for age (±5 years), gender, anti-HCV antibodies, nadir and (±50 cells/µL) baseline CD4+ count (±100 cells/µL), duration of antiretroviral therapy (±1 year), with patients with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL, on treatment with unavailable generic compounds (non-switchers). Incidence rates (IR) of different outcomes were calculated and compared by Poisson regression model. A confirmed HIV-RNA ≥50 copies/mL defined virological failure; any change in the antiretroviral regimen was defined as treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Four hundred forty patients were switched to generic compounds (268 [61%] on lamivudine, 65 [15%] on zidovudine/lamivudine, 87 [20%] on efavirenz and 20 [4%] on efavirenz and either lamivudine or zidovudine/lamivudine). Over a median follow-up of 15.0 (12.1-15.7) months, virological failure occurred in four switchers (IR: 0.07 [0.02-0.18]/100-person months of follow-up [PMFU]) and in ten non-switchers (IR: 0.20 [0.10-0.35]/100-PMFU) (p = 0.0003), while treatment discontinuation occurred in 118 switchers (IR: 2.05 [1.70-2.44]/100-PMFU) and in 128 non-switchers (IR: 2.37 [1.99-2.81]/100-PMFU) (p = 0.699). CONCLUSIONS: After more than one year of follow-up, we found no evidence of increased risk of reduced efficacy or increased toxicity after switching from branded to generic lamivudine or zidovudine/lamivudine or efavirenz.

The use of circulating cathodic antigen rapid test and serology for diagnosis of active Schistosoma mansoni infection in migrants in Italy, a non-endemic country: a cross sectional study.

Diagnosis of schistosomiasis in migrants coming from endemic areas can be difficult, especially in asymptomatic subjects. Light-intensity disease, in fact, may be missed due to the low sensitivity of the stool microscopy and serologic testing cannot distinguish between a resolved infection and an active infection in patients who have been infected and treated in the past, because specific antibodies can persist despite cure. We describe a cross-sectional study conducted on 82 migrants tested for Schistosoma mansoni on single blood (anti-schistosome antibodies, total IgE) and urine [point-of-care (POC) circulating-cathodic-antigen (CCA) test] samples. A positive POC-CCA test (active infection) resulted in two untreated patients with a positive serology while all patients (n = 66) with a past infection showed a negative POC-CCA test. POC-CCA urine test in combination with serology may be helpful in rapidly differentiate active from past S. mansoni infection in migrants coming from endemic areas.

The use of circulating cathodic antigen rapid test and serology for diagnosis of active Schistosoma mansoni infection in migrants in Italy, a non-endemic country: a cross sectional study

ABSTRACT Diagnosis of schistosomiasis in migrants coming from endemic areas can be difficult, especially in asymptomatic subjects. Light-intensity disease, in fact, may be missed due to the low sensitivity of the stool microscopy and serologic testing cannot distinguish between a resolved infection and an active infection in patients who have been infected and treated in the past, because specific antibodies can persist despite cure. We describe a cross-sectional study conducted on 82 migrants tested for Schistosoma mansoni on single blood (anti-schistosome antibodies, total IgE) and urine [point-of-care (POC) circulating-cathodic-antigen (CCA) test] samples. A positive POC-CCA test (active infection) resulted in two untreated patients with a positive serology while all patients (n = 66) with a past infection showed a negative POC-CCA test. POC-CCA urine test in combination with serology may be helpful in rapidly differentiate active from past S. mansoni infection in migrants coming from endemic areas.

Efficacy and tolerability of switching to a dual therapy with darunavir/ritonavir plus raltegravir in HIV-infected patients with HIV-1 RNA ≤50 cp/mL.

BACKGROUND: Nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) toxicity may represent a threat for long-term success of combined antiretroviral therapy. Some studies have suggested a possible improvement of NRTI-related toxicity after switching to NRTI-sparing regimens. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the efficacy and tolerability of switching to darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) plus raltegravir (RAL) while having a viral load (VL) ≤50 copies/mL in the clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN: Treatment-experienced HIV 1-infected patients enrolled in the ICONA Foundation Study cohort were included if they switched their current regimen to DRV/r + RAL with a HIV-RNA ≤50 copies/mL. Different definitions of virological failure (VF) and treatment failure (TF) were employed. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were performed to estimate time to event probability. RESULTS: We included 72 HIV-infected patients, 22 (31%) of these were female, 31 (43%) men who have sex with men (MSM) amd 15 (21%) had hepatitis co-infections. Median age was 44 (IQR: 35-50) years amd CD4 count was 389 (IQR 283-606) cells/mmc. Median follow-up time for TF was 24 (IQR 9-31) months. Twenty-five discontinuations occurred (60% simplifications); only 2 (8%) were toxicity-driven (lipid elevations). The probability of VF (confirmed VL >50 copies/mL) was estimated at 7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1-13%] by 12 and 9% (95% CI 2-16%) by 24 months. When considering TF, we found a probability of stop/intensification/single VL > 200 copies/mL of 13% (95% CI 1-17%) and 22% (95% CI 11-33%) by 12 and 24 months. Female gender (adjusted relative hazard, ARH = 0.10; 95% CI 0.01-0.74; p = 0.024) and older age (AHR = 0.50 per 10 years older; 95% CI 0.25-0.99; p = 0.045) were associated with a lower risk of TF. A previous PI failure was strongly associated with TF (AHR = 52.6, 95% CI 3.6-779; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: DRV/r + RAL is a valuable NRTI-sparing option, especially in female and older patients, with a relatively low risk of VF and good tolerability after 2 years since start in an ART-experienced population. However, previous PI-failure should be a limiting factor for this strategy.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Trajectories in HIV-Infected Subjects Treated With Different Ritonavir-Boosted Protease Inhibitors and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate or Abacavir.

The aim of the study was to evaluate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories during treatment with different protease inhibitors (PIs) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) plus tenofovir (TDF) or abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine or emtricitabine (xTC).Retrospective study of patients followed at a single clinical center; all patients who started TDF or ABC for the first time with a NNRTI or lopinavir/r (LPV/r) or atazanavir/r (ATV/r) or darunavir/r (DRV/r), for whom at least 1 eGFR value before the start and during the studied treatment was known, were included in this analysis. eGFR was calculated by means of the CKD-EPI formula. Univariate and multivariate mixed linear model (MLM) was applied to estimate eGFR slope with the considered antiretroviral treatment.In the 1658 patients treated with TDF/xTC (aged 43 [37-48] years, with an eGFR of 105 [96; 113] mL/min/1.73 m, 80% males, 92% Caucasians, 10% coinfected with HCV, 4% with diabetes, 11% with hypertension, 38% naive for antiretroviral therapy (ART), 37% with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) the median follow-up was 2.5 (1.2-4.6) years. Their adjusted eGFR slopes (95% CI) were -1.26 (-1.58; -0.95), -0.43 (-1.20; +0.33), -0.86 (-1.28; -0.44), and -0.20 (-0.42; +0.02) mL/min/1.73 m per year in patients treated with ATV/r, DRV/r, LPV/r, and NNRTI, respectively. Patients receiving ATV/r or LPV/r had a greater adjusted decline in eGFR compared with those receiving NNRTIs (difference -1.06 [-1.44; -0.69] mL/min/1.73 m per year, P <0.001; and -0.66 [-1.13; -0.20] mL/min/1.73 m per year, P = 0.005, respectively); adjusted eGFR slopes were similar in patients receiving DRV/r and in those receiving NNRTIs. Patients receiving ATV/r had a greater adjusted eGFR decline than those treated with DRV/r (difference -0.83 [-1.65; -0.02] mL/min/1.73 m per year; P = 0.04), but not than those receiving LPV/r; no significant difference was observed in adjusted eGFR slopes between patients receiving DRV/r and those receiving LPV/r. In the 286 patients treated with ABC and lamivudine, eGFR slopes were similar, independent of the PI.In patients receiving TDF/xTC, eGFR trajectories were small for all regimens and declined less in patients receiving DRV/r or NNRTIs than in those treated with ATV/r or LPV/r.

Determinants of use of the fixed dose combination emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir (Eviplera) in HIV-infected persons receiving care in Italy.

INTRODUCTION: Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir (EVP) is a fixed-dose combination of antiretrovirals (ARV) approved by the European Medicines Agency in November 2011 and introduced in Italy in February 2013. It is a once-a-day single tablet and is licensed in Europe for use only in ARV-naïve patients with a viral load (VL) ≤100,000 copies/mL. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that may be associated with the use of EVP as first-line regimen in HIV-infected individuals starting cART from ARV-naïve in Italy. METHODS: Clinical sites in ICONA Foundation Study in which ≥1 person had started EVP were selected for this analysis. From these we included all patients who started an EVP-based cART regimen as well as those starting other cART regimens after the date of introduction of EVP at the site (after February 2013 in any case) and with a VL ≤100,000 copies/mL from ARV-naïve. Characteristics at the time of starting cART were compared using chi-square test and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis. Factors investigated included: gender, mode of HIV transmission, time from HIV diagnosis, CD4 count, nation of birth, AIDS, HCV-status, age, CD8 count, VL, diabetes, smoking, total and HDL cholesterol, eGFR, blood glucose, level of education and employment and site location. Factors showing unadjusted associations with a p-value of 10% or smaller, were retained in the multivariable model. RESULTS: We identified 183 patients starting EVP and 173 starting the control regimen from 23 sites. The number of patients starting EVP included at each site ranged from 1 to 12 and the number of those starting the control regimen was similar. The most frequently used drugs in the concurrent group were: TDF (75%), FTC (74%), DRV (39%), ATV/r (26%), LPV/r (9%), EFV (13%) and RAL (14%). In univariable analysis, there were differences in median CD4 count (390 cells/mm(3) in EVP versus 348 in controls, p=0.002), time from HIV diagnosis to starting cART (11 versus 3 months, p=0.001) and prevalence of students (6% versus 3%, p=0.07). No differences were observed for all other factors examined. The table shows estimates of the odds ratios (OR) for factors included in the multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS: CD4 count was higher in EVP-treated patients compared to controls. Guidelines suggest avoiding initiation of EVP in presence of high VL, possibly explaining this residual difference in CD4. There was also a tendency to prescribe EVP to people with perceived lower adherence or hesitant to start or perhaps with a slow progressing disease.

Unboosted atazanavir with lamivudine/emtricitabine for patients with long-lasting virological suppression.

INTRODUCTION: Unboosted atazanavir (ATV) including regimens have been investigated as a ritonavir-sparing simplification strategy. No data are available on removal of one NRTI in subjects effectively treated with unboosted atazanavir+2NRTIs. We present the 48-week virological efficacy and safety of unboosted atazanavir plus lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC) (lamivudine/emtricitabine/Reyataz(©), LAREY Study). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single arm, prospective, pilot study on HIV-treated patients, HBsAg negative, with HIV-RNA<50 cps/mL since at least 2 years, who switched from ATV+2NRTIs to ATV 400 mg QD +3TC or FTC. Virological failure was defined as 2 consecutive values of HIV-RNA>50 cps/ml; viral blip was defined as a single HIV-RNA value>50 cps/ml not subsequently confirmed. RESULTS as median (IQR). Changes between baseline (BL) and week 48 assessed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Forty patients enrolled: 75% males, 51 (47-54) years, 14% HCV co-infected, infected with HIV since 16 (9-21) years, on antiretroviral therapy since 13 (5-16) years, with a nadir CD4+ of 254 (157-307) cells/mm(3), virologically suppressed since 4.2 (2.2-5.4) years; 53 patients switched from a tenofovir (TDF)-based regimens; ATV was associated with 3TC in 83% patients. No virological failures or discontinuations were observed; three patients had a single viral blip in the range 50-250 copies/mL; CD4+ increased from 610 (518-829) cells/mm(3) at BL to 697 (579-858) cells/mm(3) at week 48 [48-week change: 39 (-63/+160) cells/mm(3) p=0.081]. Three clinical events were observed (one herpes zoster, one pneumonia, one syphilis) in absence of renal lithiasis, AIDS-defining or drug-related events or death. Overall, significant 48-week amelioration of ALP [BL: 83 (71-107) mg/dL; 48-week change: -15 (-27/-8) mg/dL p<0.0001] and CKD-EPI [BL: 100 (86-108) ml/min/1.73 m(2); 48-week change: 1.5 (-3/+8) ml/min/1.73 m(2), p=0.042] were observed. Patients switching from TDF (Table 1) significantly improved CD4+, lymphocytes, hepatic profile, renal profile and ALP; these patients had also a modest but significant decrease in haemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: Switch from an unboosted atazanavir-based regimen to ATV+3TC or FTC regimen was effective and safe in this small sample, supporting the hypothesis of a potential two-steps de-intensification (removal of ritonavir and removal of one NRTI) in patients on long-lasting virological suppression.

Use of statins and risk of AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining malignancies among HIV-1 infected patients on antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that statins use is associated with a lower mortality risk or occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADMs) in HIV-positive patients. We evaluated the effect of statin therapy on the occurrence of all AIDS-defining malignancy (ADM) and NADM among HIV-positive patients. DESIGN: A chart study on HIV-1 infected patients attending the Infectious Diseases Department of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy. METHODS: Incident malignancies diagnosed since antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation until October 2012 among treated patients not taking statins at ART initiation. Statin therapy had to precede cancer diagnosis, if it occurred. Malignancies that occurred before ART or statin initiation were excluded. Follow-up was calculated since ART initiation until the first cancer diagnosis or loss to follow-up or death or last available visit, whichever occurred first. Results are described as median (interquartile range, IQR). RESULTS: Five thousand, three hundred and fifty-seven HIV-1 treated patients were included. During 52 663 person-years, 740 (14%) patients had a history of statin use; 375 malignancies occurred: 12 (1.6%) malignancies (0 ADM; 12 NADM, crude incidence rate, 1.3/1000 person-years) among statin users and 363 (7.9%) malignancies (194 ADM; 169 NADM, crude incidence rate, 8.4/1000 person-years) among non-statin users. By multivariate Fine-Gray regression, statin use was associated with a lower risk of cancer [adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for ever use: 0.45 (0.17-0.71)]. CONCLUSION: Among HIV-1 treated patients, statin use was associated with a lower risk of cancer; the benefit was mainly related to AIDS-defining malignancies. Confirmatory studies are needed to consider the residual confounding likely present in this study.

Four-year outcome of a PI and NRTI-sparing salvage regimen: maraviroc, raltegravir, etravirine.

Aim of this study was to report the 204-week efficacy and safety results of a novel PI- and NRTI-sparing regimen for salvage therapy including maraviroc, raltegravir, etravirine in 28 failing HIV-infected patients with R5-tropic virus. The trend of laboratory parameters was tested by ANOVA for repeated measures and Greenhouse-Geisser probabilities were reported. Results were described as median (Q1-Q3) values. Twenty-six (93%) out of 28 patients completed 204 weeks of treatment. Virological success (HIV-RNA<50 copies/mL) at week 204 was 96%. CD4+ counts significantly increased [244 (158-213) cells/mm3, p<0.0001] from baseline [247 (68-355) cells/mm(3)] as well as CD4+ percentage. Four serious adverse events (1 death due to Hodgkins's lymphoma, 1 anal cancer, 1 Hodgkins's lymphoma, 1 recurrence of mycobacterial spondylodiscitis) were observed; three events led to transitory discontinuation of the antiretroviral therapy due to drug-drug interaction. BMI (p<0.0001) and waist circumference (p<0.0001) significantly increased over 204 weeks. An amelioration was also observed in relation to haemoglobin (p=0.0006), platelets (p<0.0001), white blood cell (p=0.013), neutrophils (p=0.301), lymphocytes (p=0.207) and creatinine (p<0.0001). In highly treatment-experienced patients the maraviroc, raltegravir and etravirine combination is associated with a good long-term efficacy and safety profile.

Cost analysis of initial highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens for managing human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients according to clinical practice in a hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE: In the study reported here, single-tablet regimen (STR) versus (vs) multi-tablet regimen (MTR) strategies were evaluated through a cost analysis in a large cohort of patients starting their first highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1-naïve patients, followed at the San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy, starting their first-line regimen from June 2008 to April 2012 were included in the analysis. METHODS: The most frequently used first-line HAART regimens (>10%) were grouped into two classes: 1) STR of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) + emtricitabine (FTC) + efavirenz (EFV) and 2) MTR including TDF + FTC + EFV, TDF + FTC + atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r), TDF + FTC + darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r), and TDF + FTC + lopinavir/ritoavir (LPV/r). Data were analyzed from the point of view of the Lombardy Regional Health Service. HAART, hospitalizations, visits, medical examinations, and other concomitant non-HAART drug costs were evaluated and price variations included. Descriptive statistics were calculated for baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics; associations between categorical variables and type of antiretroviral strategy (STR vs MTR) were examined using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. At multivariate analysis, the generalized linear model was used to identify the predictive factors of the overall costs of the first-line HAART regimens. RESULTS: A total of 474 naïve patients (90% male, mean age 42.2 years, mean baseline HIV-RNA 4.50 log 10 copies/mL, and cluster of differentiation 4 [CD4+] count of 310 cells/µL, with a mean follow-up of 28 months) were included. Patients starting an STR treatment were less frequently antibody-hepatitis C virus positive (4% vs 11%, P=0.040), and had higher mean CD4+ values (351 vs 297 cells/µL, P=0.004) than MTR patients. The mean annual cost per patient in the STR group was €9,213.00 (range: €6,574.71-€33,570.00) and €14,277.00 (range: €5,908.89-€82,310.30) among MTR patients. At multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, sex, antibody-hepatitis C virus status, HIV risk factors, baseline CD4+, and HIV-RNA, the cost analysis was significantly lower among patients starting an STR treatment than those starting an MTR (adjusted mean: €12,096.00 vs €16,106.00, P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: STR was associated with a lower annual cost per patient than MTR, thus can be considered a cost-saving strategy in the treatment of HIV patients. This analysis is an important tool for policy makers and health care professionals to make short- and long-term cost projections and thus assess the impact of these on available budgets.

Non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers - APRI and Forns - are associated with liver stiffness in HIV-monoinfected patients receiving antiretroviral drugs.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: HIV-monoinfected patients are susceptible to liver injury by different factors and may develop liver fibrosis, which requires adequate clinical management in terms of therapy and disease monitoring. We aimed to evaluate the presence of liver fibrosis identified by transient elastography (TE), its relationships with indirect biochemical markers [the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI), the Forns index and FIB-4] and its predictive factors in HIV-monoinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Seventy-two HIV-monoinfected patients underwent TE and were evaluated using APRI, Forns and FIB-4. The clinical, immunological, virological and other biochemical characteristics were evaluated at the time of TE, together with their history of ART. RESULTS: Seven patients (10%) had liver stiffness (LS) values predicting cirrhosis, and 12 (17%) had values predicting significant or advanced fibrosis. Higher indirect biochemical scores of liver fibrosis were significantly associated with higher LS values [APRI rs  = 0.4296 (P < 0.001); Forns rs  = 0.4754 (P < 0.001); FIB-4 rs  = 0.285 (P = 0.015)]. At multivariable analysis, APRI (ß = 2.7405; P = 0.036), Forns (ß = 1.4174; P = 0.029) and triglyceride levels (ß = 1.3028; P = 0.007) were independently associated with LS. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect fibrosis biomarkers may increase the probability to detect liver injury enhancing a specific diagnostic workup and so contribute to improving the clinical management of HIV-monoinfected patients with clinically suspected liver disease.

Management of HIV infection after triple class failure.

Resistance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to antiretrovirals is a clinically important issue despite the availability of five antiretroviral drug classes. Although the incidence of HIV resistance might have stabilized or even decreased in patients starting their first Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) regimen in recent years, the prevalence of failure to the three original antiretroviral classes is estimated to range from 2.1% to 16% after HAART initiation. International guidelines recommend the use of at least two active drugs in constructing a new antiretroviral regimen to obtain virologic success, and adding a compound with a different mechanism of action often increases the chances of virologic response. With the introduction of new drug classes and new-generation compounds of older classes in the antiretroviral armamentarium, the chances of achieving virologic success in patients with resistance to all three original antiretroviral classes are certainly higher than in the past. Patients who experience virologic failure and show resistance to new antiretrovirals are, however, described both in randomized trials and clinical settings. Although HAART regimens using various associations of the newest antiretrovirals led to very high rates of virologic success in patients with previous failure to all three original drug classes, there are circumstances in which patients cannot benefit from two fully active drugs, especially after prior exposure to several suboptimal therapies or functional monotherapies. These patients often need a holding regimen while awaiting new and effective antiretrovirals. This article reviews strategies that might be effective options to obtain virologic success in patients with triple class failure, and treatment strategies for patients who do not have two active drugs to construct a new effective antiretroviral regimen after virologic failure.