Directly observed versus self-administered antiretroviral therapies: preference of HIV-positive jailed inmates in San Francisco.

Directly observed therapy (DOT) of antiretroviral (ARV) medications has beneficial effects on HIV treatment for incarcerated inmates but has been associated with limited continuation after release and inadvertent disclosure of HIV status. Guided self-administered therapy (g-SAT) may be a preferred method of ARV delivery and may encourage medication-taking behavior. We surveyed the preference of 102 HIV-positive jailed inmates at the San Francisco City and County Jails regarding receiving ARVs via DOT versus g-SAT while incarcerated. Participants overwhelmingly preferred g-SAT over DOT.

Immunologic benefits of enfuvirtide in patients enrolled in a drug assistance program.

BACKGROUND: Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that enfuvirtide plus an optimized background regimen can cause a significant increase in CD4+ cell counts and a reduction in HIV RNA levels. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze CD4+ cell count and HIV RNA changes in HIV-infected patients receiving enfuvirtide and a prescribed background regimen (PBR) in a primarily clinical setting. METHODS: A retrospective review from September 1998 through August 2005 of CD4+ cell counts and HIV RNA changes from baseline was conducted in patients receiving enfuvirtide. Data were stratified and analyzed according to baseline CD4+ cell count and HIV RNA. RESULTS: A mean CD4+ cell count increase of approximately 102 cells/mm(3)was observed, regardless of baseline CD4+ cell count, in 187 patients receiving enfuvirtide during a mean of 19.4 months of follow-up. During 3 years of follow-up, patients initiating enfuvirtide at CD4+ cell counts less than 100 cells/mm(3)never achieved absolute CD4+ cell counts comparable to the counts in patients starting enfuvirtide at CD4+ cell counts of 100 cells/mm(3)or more. In 38.3% of patients achieving an undetectable HIV RNA level, a mean CD4+ cell count increase of 185 cells/mm(3)was observed. An unexpected finding was that a mean CD4+ cell count increase of 76 cells/mm(3)occurred in 61.7% of patients not achieving complete viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS: Immunologic benefits were observed in subjects continuing enfuvirtide plus a PBR irrespective of baseline CD4+ cell count, complete viral suppression, or antiretroviral susceptibility data. Data suggest that initiation of enfuvirtide at CD4+ cell counts greater than 100 cells/mm(3)may be immunologically advantageous and independent of complete virologic response.