Bone mineral density, kidney function, weight gain and insulin resistance in women who switch from TDF/FTC/NNRTI to ABC/3TC/DTG.

OBJECTIVES: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD). We evaluated changes in BMD in women who switched from TDF, emtricitabine and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (TDF/FTC/NNRTI) to abacavir, lamivudine and dolutegravir (ABC/3TC/DTG). METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in which women aged ≥40 years were randomized 1:2 to continue TDF/FTC/NNRTI or switch to ABC/3TC/DTG. The primary endpoint was change in total hip BMD measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at week 48. Secondary endpoints were changes in BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck and markers of bone turnover and kidney function up to week 48. We conducted exploratory analyses of weight gain, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Primary and secondary endpoints were analysed by linear regression, with multiple imputation for missing time points. RESULTS: In all, 91 women [mean age = 50.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 6.6) years, median CD4 cell count = 600 (interquartile range: 479-800) cells/µL] were randomized. Women who switched to ABC/3TC/DTG maintained viral suppression and experienced improvements in total hip BMD (mean adjusted difference = 1%, P = 0.027) and lumbar spine BMD (3%, P = 0.002), with no change in specific markers of bone turnover or renal tubular function. Although participants in the ABC/3TC/DTG arm gained more weight (1.8 kg, P = 0.046), the switch strategy was not associated with reduced insulin sensitivity or new-onset metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from TDF/FTC/NNRTI to ABC/3TC/DTG resulted in improved BMD. Although weight gain was common in women who switched from TDF/FTC/NNRTI to ABC/3TC/DTG, we did not detect adverse effects on glucose homeostasis. Larger studies need to confirm these findings.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder: rate of referral for neurorehabilitation and psychiatric co-morbidity.

Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected patients continue to present with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) which may be associated with significant psychiatric co-morbidity. We audited our patients with HAND referred for psychiatric assessment against the National Service Framework guidelines that they should receive neurorehabilitation. We found that despite these patients posing a risk to themselves and others due to poor insight and medication adherence, high rates of psychiatric co-morbidity and severely challenging behaviour, few were referred for neurorehabilitation. We recommend that clear referral pathways for psychiatric intervention and neurorehabilitation are established in HIV treatment centres.

Simultaneous measurement of urinary albumin and total protein may facilitate decision-making in HIV-infected patients with proteinuria.

OBJECTIVE: We recently showed that a urine albumin/total protein ratio (uAPR) <0.4 identifies tubular pathology in proteinuric patients. In tubular disorders, proteinuria is usually of low molecular weight and contains relatively little albumin. We tested the hypothesis that uAPR is useful in identifying tubular pathology related to antiretroviral use in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: We retrospectively identified urine protein/creatinine ratios (uPCRs) in HIV-infected patients. A subset of samples had uPCR and urine albumin/creatinie ratio (uACR) measured simultaneously. We classified proteinuric patients (uPCR >30 mg/mmol) into two groups: those with predominantly 'tubular' proteinuria (TP) (uAPR <0.4) and those with predominantly 'glomerular' proteinuria (GP) (uAPR ≥ 0.4). RESULTS: A total of 618 of 5244 samples from 1378 patients had uPCR ≥ 30 mg/mmol. uAPRs were available in 144 patients: 46 patients (32%) had TP and 21 (15%) GP; the remainder had uPCR <30 mg/mmol. The TP group had a higher fractional excretion of phosphate compared with the GP group (mean 27% vs. 16%, respectively; P<0.01). Patients with TP were more likely to be on tenofovir and/or a boosted protease inhibitor compared with those with GP. In 18 patients with heavy proteinuria (uPCR >100 mg/mmol), a renal assessment was made; eight had a kidney biopsy. In all cases, the uAPR results correlated with the nephrological diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients, measuring uAPR may help to identify patients in whom a renal biopsy is indicated, and those in whom tubular dysfunction might be an important cause of proteinuria and which may be related to antiretroviral toxicity. We suggest that this would be useful as a routine screening procedure in patients with proteinuria.

Pregnancy in HIV-infected teenagers in London.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe pregnancies in HIV-infected teenagers. METHODS: A review of the case notes of HIV-infected pregnant teenagers aged 13-19 years from 12 London hospitals was carried out for the period 2000-2007. RESULTS: There were 67 pregnancies in 58 young women, of whom one was known to have acquired HIV vertically. The overall mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rate of HIV was 1.5% (one of 66). There were 66 live births. Median ages at HIV diagnosis and conception were 17 and 18 years, respectively. Sixty-three per cent of women were diagnosed with HIV infection through routine antenatal screening. Eighty-two per cent of pregnancies (41 of 50) were unplanned, with 65% of women (26 of 40) using no contraception. Forty-three per cent of the women (20 of 46) had a past history of a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In 63 pregnancies, antiretroviral therapy was started post-conception, with prevention of HIV MTCT the only indication in 81% of cases. Fifty-eight per cent of those on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) had an undetectable HIV viral load by delivery. Eighty-seven per cent were uncomplicated pregnancies. Seventy-one per cent delivered by Caesarean section and 21% (14 of 64) had a preterm delivery (<37 weeks). In the 12 months after delivery, 45% of women received contraceptive advice and 25% of women became pregnant again. CONCLUSION: Obstetric and virological outcomes were favourable in this group of HIV-infected young women. However, the majority of pregnancies were unplanned with poor documentation of contraception use and advice and low rates of STI screening. A quarter of women conceived again within 12 months of delivery. Effective measures to reduce STIs, unplanned pregnancies and onward HIV transmission in HIV-infected teenagers are needed.