ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of replacing protease inhibitors (PIs) with abacavir on insulin sensitivity and plasma lipids. - DESIGN: Pilot study including 31 patients with sustained virological control on their first PI-containing HAART regimen. 16 patients were switched from PIs to abacavir (ABC group), 15 patients continued on PIs (PI group). In all patients, nucleoside-analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors were continued. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity (using an intravenous insulin tolerance test) and fasting total cholesterol and triglycerides were determined at baseline, month 3, 6, 9 and 12. RESULTS: In the ABC group, there was a significant increase in median insulin sensitivity from baseline within 6 months (+ 49 micromol/l/min), and a significant decrease in both triglycerides (-41mg/dl) and cholesterol (-40mg/dl) at month 3. These changes were sustained through month 12. In addition, a reversal of baseline insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was observed in the majority of patients. In the PI group, no significant changes in insulin sensitivity, triglycerides and cholesterol were observed. There was a significant correlation between the changes in insulin sensitivity, triglycerides and cholesterol. INTERPRETATION: Switching from PIs to abacavir is associated with an improvement of insulin sensitivity and a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides in the majority of patients with HAART-associated metabolic alterations and therefore might be an alternative for patients to PI-containing HAART regimens.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/drug therapy , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects , Cholesterol/blood , Dideoxynucleosides/therapeutic use , HIV Protease Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Insulin Resistance , Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Triglycerides/blood , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/virology , Adult , Aged , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Humans , Middle Aged , Viral LoadABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the course of CMV retinitis after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and discontinuation of systemic anti-CMV maintenance therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case reports are presented for two AIDS patients (2 eyes, ages 34, 43, male) with CMV retinitis. The CD4 count at the time of CMV retinitis was 20/microliter (patient 1) and 35/microliter (patient 2). Under HAART the CD4 count rose up to 202/microliter (patient 1) and 350/microliter (patient 2); the viral load was under detection limit in both patients. At that time systemic maintenance therapy was discontinued in both patients. RESULTS: There was no progression of retinitis during the observation period of 21 months (patient 1) and 24 months (patient 2). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with immune recovery under HAART it is possible to discontinue systemic anti-CMV maintenance therapy.
