ABSTRACT
AIM: To determine the frequency of occult hepatitis B infection (OHBI) in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+/ hepatitis B surface antigen negative (HBsAg)- patients from Mexico. METHODS: We investigated the presence of OHBI in 49 HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was analyzed using nested PCR to amplify the Core (C) region and by real-time PCR to amplify a region of the S and X genes. The possible associations between the variables and OHBI were investigated using Pearson's χ(2) and/or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: We found that the frequency of OHBI was 49% among the group of 49 HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients studied. The presence of OHBI was significantly associated with the HIV-1 RNA viral load [odds ratio (OR) = 8.75; P = 0.001; 95%CI: 2.26-33.79] and with HIV-antiretroviral treatment with drugs that interfere with HBV replication (lamivudine, tenofovir or emtricitabine) (OR = 0.25; P = 0.05; 95%CI: 0.08-1.05). CONCLUSION: The OHBI frequency is high among 49 Mexican HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients and it was more frequent in patients with detectable HIV RNA, and less frequent in patients who are undergoing HIV-ARV treatment with drugs active against HBV.
Subject(s)
Coinfection , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV-1/pathogenicity , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Biomarkers/blood , Chi-Square Distribution , DNA, Viral/blood , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/virology , HIV-1/drug effects , HIV-1/genetics , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B virus/drug effects , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Humans , Male , Mexico/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques , Odds Ratio , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , RNA, Viral/blood , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk Factors , Viral Load , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of efavirenz (EFV) vs lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in combination with azidothymidine/lamivudine in antiretroviral therapy naive, HIV+ individuals presenting for care with CD4 counts <200/mm. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, open label, multicenter trial in Mexico. HIV-infected subjects with CD4 <200/mm were randomized to receive open label EFV or LPV/r plus azidothymidine/lamivudine (fixed-dose combination) for 48 weeks. Randomization was stratified by baseline CD4 cell count (< or =100 or >100/mm). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at 48 weeks by intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: A total of 189 patients (85% men) were randomized to receive EFV (95) or LPV/r (94). Median baseline CD4 were 64 and 52/mm, respectively (P = not significant). At week 48, by intention-to-treat analysis, 70% of EFV and 53% of LPV/r patients achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL [estimated difference 17% (95% confidence interval 3.5 to 31), P = 0.013]. The proportion with HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/mL was 73% with EFV and 65% with LPV/r (P = 0.25). Virologic failure occurred in 7 patients on EFV and 17 on LPV/r. Mean CD4 count increases (cells/mm) were 234 for EFV and 239 for LPV/r. Mean change in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 50 and 48 mg/dL in EFV and 63 and 116 mg/dL in LPV/r (P = 0.24 and P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In these very advanced HIV-infected ARV-naive subjects, EFV-based highly active antiretroviral therapy had superior virologic efficacy than LPV/r-based highly active antiretroviral therapy, with a more favorable lipid profile.
