HIV-induced immunodeficiency and mortality from AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining malignancies

[Non-AIDS defining malignancies, or the sleeping giant: an update]

Non-AIDS defining malignancies (NADM) are a very heterogeneous group of cancers with increasing importance in subjects with HIV infection. They develop in patients that are younger than general population and their clinical manifestations are usually atypical, with higher tumour grades, more aggressive clinical behaviour and metastatic disease. The outcome is poor, with rapid progression, a high rate of relapse, and a poor response to treatment. There are several factors that influence their development: HIV infection, chronic immunosuppression, and co-infection with some oncogenic viruses. The most frequent NADM are those associated with human papillomavirus infection, lung cancer, hepatic cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Their management is based on three essential points: the treatment of the specific malignancy, the use of antiretroviral therapy, and the prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections. The two factors significantly associated with prevention of NADM are a CD4+ lymphocyte count more than 500/mm(3), and an undetectable viral load.

[Consensus document of Gesida and Spanish Secretariat for the National Plan on AIDS (SPNS) regarding combined antiretroviral treatment in adults infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (January 2012)]

This consensus document has been prepared by a panel consisting of members of the AIDS Study Group (Gesida) and the Spanish Secretariat for the National Plan on AIDS (SPNS) after reviewing the efficacy and safety results of clinical trials, cohort and pharmacokinetic studies published in medical journals, or presented in medical scientific meetings. Gesida has prepared an objective and structured method to prioritise combined antiretroviral treatment (cART) in naïve patients. Recommendations strength (A, B, C) and the evidence which supports them (I, II, III) are based on a modification of the Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria. The current antiretroviral treatment (ART) of choice for chronic HIV infection is the combination of three drugs. ART is recommended in patients with symptomatic HIV infection, in pregnancy, in serodiscordant couples with high transmission risk, hepatitis B fulfilling treatment criteria, and HIV nephropathy. Guidelines on ART treatment in patients with concurrent diagnosis of HIV infection and an opportunistic type C infection are included. In asymptomatic patients ART is recommended on the basis of CD4 lymphocyte counts, plasma viral load and patient co-morbidities, as follows: 1) therapy should be started in patients with CD4 counts <350 cells/μL; 2) when CD4 counts are between 350 and 500 cells/μL, therapy will be recommended and only delayed if patient is reluctant to take it, the CD4 are stabilised, and the plasma viral load is low; 3) therapy could be deferred when CD4 counts are above 500 cells/μL, but should be considered in cases of cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C, high cardiovascular risk, plasma viral load >10(5) copies/mL, proportion of CD4 cells <14%, and in people aged >55 years. ART should include 2 reverse transcriptase inhibitors nucleoside analogues and a third drug (non-analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor, ritonavir boosted protease inhibitor or integrase inhibitor). The panel has consensually selected and given priority to using the Gesida score for some drug combinations, some of them co-formulated. The objective of ART is to achieve an undetectable viral load. Adherence to therapy plays an essential role in maintaining antiviral response. Therapeutic options are limited after ART failures, but an undetectable viral load may be possible nowadays. Adverse events are a fading problem of ART. Guidelines in acute HIV infection, in women, in pregnancy, and to prevent mother-to-child transmission and pre- and post-exposition prophylaxis are commented upon. Management of hepatitis B or C co-infection, other co-morbidities, and the characteristics of ART in HIV-2 infection are included.

Considerations in the rationale, design and methods of the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) study

BACKGROUND

Untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by progressive depletion of CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) count leading to the development of opportunistic diseases (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)), and more recent data suggest that HIV is also associated with an increased risk of serious non-AIDS (SNA) diseases including cardiovascular, renal, and liver diseases and non-AIDS-defining cancers. Although combination antiretroviral treatment (ART) has resulted in a substantial decrease in morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV infection, viral eradication is not feasible with currently available drugs. The optimal time to start ART for asymptomatic HIV infection is controversial and remains one of the key unanswered questions in the clinical management of HIV-infected individuals.

PURPOSE

In this article, we outline the rationale and methods of the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) study, an ongoing multicenter international trial designed to assess the risks and benefits of initiating ART earlier than is currently practiced. We also describe some of the challenges encountered in the design and implementation of the study and how these challenges were addressed.

METHODS

A total of 4000 study participants who are HIV type 1 (HIV-1) infected, ART naïve with CD4 count > 500 cells/µL are to be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to start ART immediately (early ART) or defer treatment until CD4 count is <350 cells/µL (deferred ART) and followed for a minimum of 3 years. The primary outcome is time to AIDS, SNA, or death. The study had a pilot phase to establish feasibility of accrual, which was set as the enrollment of at least 900 participants in the first year.

RESULTS

Challenges encountered in the design and implementation of the study included the limited amount of data on the risk of a major component of the primary endpoint (SNA) in the study population, changes in treatment guidelines when the pilot phase was well underway, and the complexities of conducting the trial in a geographically wide population with diverse regulatory requirements. With the successful completion of the pilot phase, more than 1000 participants from 100 sites in 23 countries have been enrolled. The study will expand to include 237 sites in 36 countries to reach the target accrual of 4000 participants.

CONCLUSIONS

START is addressing one of the most important questions in the clinical management of ART. The randomization provided a platform for the conduct of several substudies aimed at increasing our understanding of HIV disease and the effects of antiretroviral therapy beyond the primary question of the trial. The lessons learned from its design and implementation will hopefully be of use to future publicly funded international trials.

Incomplete immune recovery in HIV infection: mechanisms, relevance for clinical care, and possible solutions

Treatment of HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) usually results in diminished viral replication, increasing CD4+ cell counts, a reversal of most immunological disturbances, and a reduction in risk of morbidity and mortality. However, approximately 20% of all HIV-infected patients do not achieve optimal immune reconstitution despite suppression of viral replication. These patients are referred to as immunological nonresponders (INRs). INRs present with severely altered immunological functions, including malfunction and diminished production of cells within lymphopoetic tissue, perturbed frequencies of immune regulators such as regulatory T cells and Th17 cells, and increased immune activation, immunosenescence, and apoptosis. Importantly, INRs have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared to HIV-infected patients with an optimal immune reconstitution. Additional treatment to HAART that may improve immune reconstitution has been investigated, but results thus far have proved disappointing. The reason for immunological nonresponse is incompletely understood. This paper summarizes the known and unknown factors regarding the incomplete immune reconstitution in HIV infection, including mechanisms, relevance for clinical care, and possible solutions.

Interleukin-7 and immune reconstitution in cancer patients: a new paradigm for dramatically increasing overall survival

Although great effort is being expended in the development of cancer immunotherapies, it is surprising that global lymphopenia and its various dimensions are not being systematically assessed in cancer patients. The incident pathologies associated with various immunosuppressed conditions such as those found in HIV infection have taught us that measuring various T cell populations including CD4 provides the clinician with a reliable measure for gauging the risk of cancer and opportunistic infections. Importantly, recent data emphasize the key link between lymphocyte T cell counts and overall survival in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Treatment of immunocompromised patients with interleukin-7 (IL-7), a critical growth and homeostatic factor for T cells, has been shown to produce a compelling profile of T cell reconstitution. The clinical results of this investigational therapy confirm data obtained from numerous preclinical studies and demonstrate the long-term stability of this immune reconstitution, not only on CD4 but also on CD8 T cells, involving recent thymic emigrants as well as naive, memory, and central memory T cells. Furthermore, IL-7 therapy also contributes to restoration of a broadened diversity of the T cell repertoire as well as to migration of these cells to lymph nodes and tissues. All these properties support the initiation of new clinical studies aimed at reconstituting the immune system of cancer patients before or immediately after chemotherapy in order to demonstrate a potentially profound increase in overall survival.

Long-term complications in patients with poor immunological recovery despite virological successful HAART in Dutch ATHENA cohort

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the risk of AIDS and serious non-AIDS-defining diseases (non-ADDs) according to the degree of immunological recovery after 2 years of virological successful antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study including HIV-infected patients treated with HAART resulting in viral suppression (<500 copies/ml).

METHODS

Patients were grouped according to their CD4 cell count after 2 years of HAART: CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/μl (group A), 200-350 cells/μl (group B), 351-500 cells/μl (group C) or more than 500 cells/μl (group D). Analysis was done to assess predictors for poor immunological recovery and the occurrence of a composite endpoint [death, AIDS, malignancies, liver cirrhosis and cardiovascular events (CVEs)], non-ADDs, CVEs and non-AIDS-defining malignancies (non-ADMs).

RESULTS

Three thousand and sixty-eight patients were included. Older age, lower CD4 cell nadir and lower plasma HIV-RNA at the start of HAART were independent predictors for a poor immunological recovery. The composite endpoint, non-ADDs and CVE were observed most frequently in group A (overall log rank, P < 0.0001, P = 0.002 and P = 0.01). In adjusted analyses, age was a strong independent predictor for all endpoints. Compared with group A, patients in group D had a lower risk for the composite endpoint [hazard ratio 0.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.87]; patients in group B had a lower risk for CVEs [hazard ratio 0.34 (95% CI 0.14-0.86)].

CONCLUSION

Poor immunological recovery despite virological successful HAART is associated with a higher risk for overall morbidity and mortality and CVEs in particular. This study underlines the importance of starting HAART at higher CD4 cell counts, particularly in older patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated lung cancer in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining malignancies. Because highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the survival of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the authors evaluated lung cancer outcomes in the HAART era.

METHODS

HIV-positive patients who were diagnosed with lung cancer at the authors' institution during the HAART era (1995-2008) were analyzed. Patient charts were reviewed for clinical and laboratory data. The CD4 count at diagnosis was treated as a continuous variable and subcategorized into distinct variables with 3 cutoff points (50 cells/mL, 200 cells/mL, and 500 cells/mL). Pearson correlation coefficients were estimated for each covariate studied. Survival was determined by using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Of 80 patients, 73 had nonsmall cell lung cancer. Baseline characteristics were as follows: median patient age, 52 years; male, 80%; African Americans, 84%; injection drug users, 25%; smokers, 100%; and previous exposure to antiretroviral agents, 55%. At the time of cancer diagnosis, the mean CD4 count was 304 cells/mL, and the mean viral load was 82,420 copies/mL. The latency between HIV diagnosis and lung cancer diagnosis was significantly shorter among women (4.1 years vs 7.7 years; P = .02), and 71% of patients received anticancer therapy. The 1-year and 3-year survival rates for stage IIIB/IV were 25% and 0%, respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicities occurred in 60% of patients who received chemoradiation versus 36% of patients who received chemotherapy. Cancer-related survival was better for patients with CD4 counts >200 cells/mL (P = .0298) and >500 cells/mL (P = .0076).

CONCLUSIONS

The latency from diagnosis of HIV to lung cancer was significantly shorter for women. Although outcomes for patients with lung cancer who have HIV remain poor, a high CD4 count was associated with improved lung cancer-related survival.

Lewden C, Bouteloup V, De Wit S, Sabin C, Mocroft A, Wasmuth JC, van Sighem A, Kirk O, Obel N, Panos G, Ghosn J, Dabis F, Mary-Krause M, Leport C, Perez-Hoyos S, Sobrino-Vegas P, Stephan C, Castagna A, Antinori A, d'Arminio Monforte A, Torti C, Mussini C, Isern V, Calmy A, Teira R, Egger M, Grarup J, Chêne G. All-cause mortality in treated HIV-infected adults with CD4 ≥500/mm3 compared with the general population: evidence from a large European observational cohort collaboration

BACKGROUND

Using data from a large European collaborative study, we aimed to identify the circumstances in which treated HIV-infected individuals will experience similar mortality rates to those of the general population.

METHODS

Adults were eligible if they initiated combination anti-retroviral treatment (cART) between 1998 and 2008 and had one prior CD4 measurement within 6 months. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and excess mortality rates compared with the general population were estimated using Poisson regression. Periods of follow-up were classified according to the current CD4 count.

RESULTS

Of the 80 642 individuals, 70% were men, 16% were injecting drug users (IDUs), the median age was 37 years, median CD4 count 225/mm(3) at cART initiation and median follow-up was 3.5 years. The overall mortality rate was 1.2/100 person-years (PY) (men: 1.3, women: 0.9), 4.2 times as high as that in the general population (SMR for men: 3.8, for women: 7.4). Among 35 316 individuals with a CD4 count ≥500/mm(3), the mortality rate was 0.37/100 PY (SMR 1.5); mortality rates were similar to those of the general population in non-IDU men [SMR 0.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.7-1.3] and, after 3 years, in women (SMR 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7). Mortality rates in IDUs remained elevated, though a trend to decrease with longer durations with high CD4 count was seen. A prior AIDS diagnosis was associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality patterns in most non-IDU HIV-infected individuals with high CD4 counts on cART are similar to those in the general population. The persistent role of a prior AIDS diagnosis underlines the importance of early diagnosis of HIV infection.

Fatal and nonfatal AIDS and non-AIDS events in HIV-1-positive individuals with high CD4 cell counts according to viral load strata

BACKGROUND

This study compared the incidence of fatal and nonfatal AIDS and non-AIDS events in HIV-positive individuals with a CD4 cell count more than 350  cells/μl among viral load strata: low (<500  copies/ml), intermediate (500-9999.9  copies/ml) and high (≥ 10000  copies/ml).

METHODS

Individuals contributed person-years at risk if their most recent CD4 cell count was more than 350  cells/μl. Follow-up was censored if their CD4 cell count dropped below 350  cells/μl. Poisson regression analysis investigated the relationship between viraemia and the incidence of AIDS and non-AIDS events.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifty-four AIDS events occurred during 51 732  person-years of follow-up (PYFU), crude incidence rate of AIDS across the three strata was 0.53, 0.90 and 2.12 per 100 PYFU, respectively. After adjustment, a higher rate of AIDS was observed in individuals with moderate [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.44, 1.02-2.05, P = 0.03] and high viraemia had a higher rate (IRR 3.91, 2.89-5.89, P < 0.0001) compared with low viraemia. Five hundred and seventy-two non-AIDS events occurred during 43 784 PYFU, the crude incidence rates were 1.28, 1.52, and 1.38 per 100 PYFU, respectively. After adjustment, particularly for age, region of Europe and starting combination antiretroviral therapy, there was a 61% (IRR 1.61, 1.21-2.14, P = 0.001) and 66% (IRR 1.66, 1.17-2.32, P = 0.004) higher rate of non-AIDS in individuals with intermediate and high viraemia compared with low viraemia.

CONCLUSION

In individuals with a CD4 cell count more than 350  cells/μl, an increased incidence of AIDS and a slightly increased incidence of non-AIDS was found in those with uncontrolled viral replication. The association with AIDS was clear and consistent. However, the association with non-AIDS was only apparent after adjustment and no differences were observed between intermediate and high viraemia.

HIV infection, immunodeficiency, viral replication, and the risk of cancer

BACKGROUND

Few studies have compared cancer risk between HIV-infected individuals and a demographically similar HIV-uninfected internal comparison group, adjusting for cancer risk factors.

METHODS

We followed 20,775 HIV-infected and 215,158 HIV-uninfected individuals enrolled in Kaiser Permanente (KP) California for incident cancer from 1996 to 2008. Rate ratios (RR) were obtained from Poisson models comparing HIV-infected (overall and stratified by recent CD4 count and HIV RNA) with HIV-uninfected individuals, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, calendar period, KP region, smoking, alcohol/drug abuse, and overweight/obesity.

RESULTS

We observed elevated RRs for Kaposi sarcoma (KS; RR = 199; P < 0.001), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; RR = 15; P < 0.001), anal cancer (RR = 55; P < 0.001), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL; RR = 19; P < 0.001), melanoma (RR = 1.8; P = 0.001), and liver cancer (RR = 1.8; P = 0.013), a reduced RR for prostate cancer (RR = 0.8; P = 0.012), and no increased risk for oral cavity/pharynx (RR = 1.4; P = 0.14), lung (RR = 1.2; P = 0.15), or colorectal (RR = 0.9; P = 0.34) cancers. Lung and oral cavity/pharynx cancers were elevated for HIV-infected subjects in models adjusted only for demographics. KS, NHL, anal cancer, HL, and colorectal cancer had significant (P < 0.05) trends for increasing RRs with decreasing recent CD4. The RRs for lung and oral cavity/pharynx cancer were significantly elevated with CD4 < 200 cells/μL and for melanoma and liver cancer with CD4 < 500 cells/μL. Only KS and NHL were associated with HIV RNA.

CONCLUSION

Immunodeficiency was positively associated with all cancers examined except prostate cancer among HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected individuals, after adjustment for several cancer risk factors.

IMPACT

Earlier antiretroviral therapy initiation to maintain high CD4 levels might reduce the burden of cancer in this population.

Mortality of HIV-infected patients with or without cancer: comparison with the general population in Italy

BACKGROUND

HAART has reduced mortality in HIV-infected patients; however, the risk of non-AIDS-related events has increased, including cancer. We compared mortality in HIV-infected patients with or without cancer with the general population in Italy.

METHODS

Eligible patients were recorded in the San Raffaele Infectious Diseases Department database. The ratio of observed deaths to expected all-cause deaths (standardized mortality ratio [SMR]) was standardized for age and gender, and stratified by cancer occurrence or year of HIV infection (≤1998 or >1998). Expected all-cause deaths were obtained from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Rome, Italy; 2002 data).

RESULTS

Among 6,495 HIV-infected patients, contributing 75,171 person-years, the SMR was 6.0 (95% CI 5.7, 6.4); SMRs decreased as age increased. Mortality rates were significantly higher than the general population for patients with or without cancer (SMR=15.1 [95% CI 13.6, 16.7] and 4.8 [95% CI 4.5, 5.1], respectively). For patients with or without cancer, SMRs were higher in those aged <45 years than older patients. SMRs for patients with cancer were almost stable in those infected with HIV ≤1998 (15.3; 95% CI 13.7, 17.0) or >1998 (13.5; 95% CI 9.2, 19.1). Among patients with cancer diagnosed with HIV >1998, age-adjusted SMRs ranged from 216.0 (95% CI 43.4, 631.3) to 6.8 (95% CI 4.7, 9.7) in patients <30 years or ≥70 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality in HIV-infected patients remains higher than the general population in Italy, with marked differences according to age, and cancer contributing to an increased excess of mortality.

CD4+ T-cell deficiency in HIV patients responding to antiretroviral therapy is associated with increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes in CD4+ T cells

Most patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who remain CD4(+) T-cell deficient on antiretroviral therapy (ART) exhibit marked immune activation. As CD4(+) T-cell activation may be mediated by microbial translocation or interferon-alpha (IFN-α), we examined these factors in HIV patients with good or poor CD4(+) T-cell recovery on long-term ART. Messenger RNA levels for 3 interferon-stimulated genes were increased in CD4(+) T cells of patients with poor CD4(+) T-cell recovery, whereas levels in patients with good recovery did not differ from those in healthy controls. Poor CD4(+) T-cell recovery was also associated with CD4(+) T-cell expression of markers of activation, senescence, and apoptosis, and with increased serum levels of the lipopolysaccharide receptor and soluble CD14, but these were not significantly correlated with expression of the interferon-stimulated genes. Therefore, CD4(+) T-cell recovery may be adversely affected by the effects of IFN-α, which may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.

Predictors of immune recovery and the association with late mortality while on antiretroviral treatment in Cambodia

The objectives of this study were to examine the association of the on-treatment CD4 cell count with late mortality (after >6 months of antiretroviral treatment [ART]) and to identify the determinants of the long-term CD4 cell count evolution after treatment initiation. We conducted a retrospective analysis including all antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve adults initiating ART in a tertiary hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 2003-2010. We used Cox proportional hazards modelling (mortality analysis), including time-updated CD4 counts, and mixed-effects modelling (CD4 response over time). Overall, 2840 patients were included (47% male, median age: 34 years, median baseline CD4 count: 78 cells/μL). The median time on ART was 2.5 years (IQR 1.1-4.3); 71 patients died after >6 months of ART. The baseline CD4 count was the main determinant of the on-treatment CD4 cell count. Time-updated CD4 cell counts was the strongest determinant of late mortality with a HR of 0.32 (95% CI 0.16-0.63) and 0.29 (95% CI 0.11-0.71) for CD4 values of 200-350 cells/μL and 350-500 cells/μL respectively. We conclude that baseline CD4 counts strongly determine the long-term immune recovery, which critically affects late mortality. This calls for increased efforts for early ART initiation and availability of CD4 count testing in low-income countries.

Biomarkers of immune dysfunction following combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients, yet their life expectancy remains reduced compared with the general population. Most HIV-infected patients receiving cART have some persistent immune dysfunction characterized by chronic immune activation and premature aging of the immune system. Here we review biomarkers of T-cell activation (CD69, -25 and -38, HLA-DR, and soluble CD26 and -30); generalized immune activation (C-reactive protein, IL-6 and D-dimer); microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide, 16S rDNA, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and soluble CD14); and immune dysfunction of specific cellular subsets (T cells, natural killer cells and monocytes) in HIV-infected patients on cART and their relationship to adverse clinical outcomes including impaired CD4 T-cell recovery, as well as non-AIDS clinical events, such as cardiovascular disease.

Rates of cardiovascular disease following smoking cessation in patients with HIV infection: results from the D:A:D study(*)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to estimate the rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events after stopping smoking in patients with HIV infection.

METHODS

Patients who reported smoking status and no previous CVD prior to enrolment in the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study were included in this study. Smoking status is collected at each visit as current smoker (yes/no) and ever smoker (yes/no). Time since stopping smoking was calculated for persons who had reported current smoking during follow-up and no current smoking subsequently. Endpoints were: myocardial infarction (MI); coronary heart disease (CHD: MI plus invasive coronary artery procedure or death from other CHD); CVD (CHD plus carotid artery endarterectomy or stroke); and all-cause mortality. Event rates were calculated for never, previous and current smokers, and smokers who stopped during follow-up. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were determined using Poisson regression adjusted for age, sex, cohort, calendar year, family history of CVD, diabetes, lipids, blood pressure and antiretroviral treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 27 136 patients had smoking status reported, with totals of 432, 600, 746 and 1902 MI, CHD, CVD and mortality events, respectively. The adjusted IRR of CVD in patients who stopped smoking during follow-up decreased from 2.32 within the first year of stopping to 1.49 after >3 years compared with those who never smoked. Similar trends were observed for the MI and CHD endpoints. Reductions in risk were less pronounced for all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSION

The risk of CVD events in HIV-positive patients decreased with increasing time since stopping smoking. Smoking cessation efforts should be a priority in the management of HIV-positive patients.

Colorectal cancer in HIV positive individuals: the immunological effects of treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), non-AIDS defining malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC) have emerged as major health concerns for people living with HIV.

METHODS

From a prospective database of 11,112 HIV seropositive individuals, we identified 11 patients with CRC. Clinicopathological details on the presentation, treatment and outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

All were male with a median age of 50 years (range 36-67) and median duration of HIV infection of 7.2 years (range 0-21). Five had metastatic disease at presentation, including 1 patient with a small cell cancer of the rectum. Patients were treated along conventional lines for CRC with concomitant HAART and opportunistic infection prophylaxis. During treatment, median CD4 cell counts fell from 357/mm(3) at CRC diagnosis to 199/mm(3), although no opportunistic infections were recorded. Three patients have died and the 5-year overall survival measured 65% (95% confidence interval 32-98%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment for CRC reduces cellular immunity and potentially puts HIV patients at risk of opportunistic infections; knowledge of HIV status prior to starting treatment is essential. This risk may be reduced by concomitant HAART and prophylaxis. Clinicians managing CRC should consider screening patients for HIV before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Association between use of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and mortality in HIV-infected patients

INTRODUCTION

HIV infection is a disease associated with chronic inflammation and immune activation. Antiretroviral therapy reduces inflammation, but not to levels in comparable HIV-negative individuals. The HMG-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) inhibit several pro-inflammatory processes and suppress immune activation, and are a logical therapy to assess for a possible salutary effect on HIV disease progression and outcomes.

METHODS

Eligible patients were patients enrolled in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort who achieved virologic suppression within 180 days of starting a new highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen after January 1, 1998. Assessment was continued until death in patients who maintained a virologic suppression, with right-censoring of their follow-up time if they had an HIV RNA > 500 copies/ml. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess statin use as a time-varying covariate, as well as other demographic and clinical factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1538 HIV-infected patients fulfilled eligibility criteria, of whom 238 (15.5%) received a statin while taking HAART. There were 85 deaths (7 in statin users, 78 in non-users). By multivariate Cox regression, statin use was associated with a relative hazard of 0.33 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.76; P =  0.009) after adjusting for CD4, HIV-1 RNA, hemoglobin and cholesterol levels at the start of HAART, age, race, HIV risk group, prior use of ART, year of HAART start, NNRTI vs. PI-based ART, prior AIDS-defining illness, and viral hepatitis coinfection. Malignancy, non-AIDS-defining infection and liver failure were particularly prominent causes of death.

DISCUSSION

Statin use was associated with significantly lower hazard of dying in these HIV-infected patients who were being effectively treated with HAART as determined by virologic suppression. Our results suggest the need for confirmation in other observational cohorts, and if confirmed, the need for a clinical trial of statin use in HIV infection.

A standardized algorithm for determining the underlying cause of death in HIV infection as AIDS or non-AIDS related: results from the EuroSIDA study

OBJECTIVES

Analyzing changes in causes of death over time is essential for understanding the emerging trends in HIV population mortality, yet data on cause of death are often missing. This poses analytic limitations, as does the changing approach in data collection by longitudinal studies, which are a natural consequence of an increased awareness and knowledge in the field. To monitor and analyze changes in mortality over time, we have explored this issue within the EuroSIDA study and propose a standardized protocol unifying data collected and allowing for classification of all deaths as AIDS or non-AIDS related, including events with missing cause of death.

METHODS

Several classifications of the underlying cause of death as AIDS or non-AIDS related within the EuroSIDA study were compared: central classification (CC-reference group) based on an externally standardised method (the CoDe procedures), local cohort classification (LCC) as reported by the site investigator, and 4 algorithms (ALG) created based on survival times after specific AIDS events.

RESULTS

A total of 2,783 deaths occurred, 540 CoDe forms were collected, and 488 were used to evaluate agreements. The agreement between CC and LCC was substantial (κ = 0.7) and the agreement between CC and ALG was moderate (κ < 0.6). Consequently, a stepwise algorithm was derived prioritizing CC over LCC and, in patients with no information available, best-fit ALG. Using this algorithm, 1,332 (47.9%) deaths were classified as AIDS and 1,451 (52.1%) as non-AIDS related.

CONCLUSIONS

Our proposed stepwise algorithm for classifying deaths provides a valuable tool for future research, however validation in another setting is warranted.

Management of HIV infection in treatment-naive patients: a review of the most current recommendations

PURPOSE

The most current guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in treatment-naive patients are reviewed.

SUMMARY

Treatment guidelines are updated frequently because of the emergence of data demonstrating the risks and benefits of antiretroviral therapy. The DHHS guidelines strongly recommend initiating therapy in patients with certain conditions regardless of CD4 cell count and in patients with CD4 cell counts of <350 cells/mm(3). Although supporting data are less definitive, treatment is also recommended for patients with CD4 cell counts of 350-500 cells/mm(3). Treatment for patients with CD4 cell counts of >500 cells/mm(3) is controversial. Although cumulative observational data and biological evidence support treatment at higher CD4 cell counts, randomized controlled trial data to support this are not available, and the risk of antiretroviral toxicities, resistance, non-adherence, and cost should be considered in individual patients. The preferred regimens have been consolidated to four options, including a dual-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor backbone (tenofovir plus emtricitabine) with a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (efavirenz), a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (atazanavir plus ritonavir or darunavir plus ritonavir), or an integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (raltegravir). Regimens are classified as alternative or acceptable when they have potential safety or efficacy concerns, have higher pill burdens, or require more-frequent administration compared with preferred regimens.

CONCLUSION

The DHHS 2011 guidelines advocate earlier antiretroviral therapy initiation than recommended in recent years, and preferred regimens have been refined to maximize efficacy, safety, and quality of life for treatment-naive HIV-infected patients.

Sexual orientation and mortality among US men aged 17 to 59 years: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III

OBJECTIVES

We investigated associations between minority sexual orientation and mortality among US men.

METHODS

We used data from a retrospective cohort of 5574 men aged 17 to 59 years, first interviewed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III; 1988-1994) and then followed for mortality status up to 18 years later. We classified men into 3 groups: those reporting (1) any same-sex sexual partners (men who have sex with men [MSM]; n = 85), (2) only female sexual partners (n = 5292), and (3) no sexual partners (n = 197). Groups were then compared for all-cause mortality, HIV-related mortality, suicide-related mortality, and non-HIV-related mortality.

RESULTS

Compared with heterosexual men, MSM evidenced greater all-cause mortality. Approximately 13% of MSM died from HIV-related causes compared with 0.1% of men reporting only female partners. However, mortality risk from non-HIV-related causes, including suicide, was not elevated among MSM.

CONCLUSIONS

In the United States, the HIV epidemic continues to be the major contributing factor for premature death rates among MSM. Cohorts such as the NHANES III offer a unique opportunity to track the effects of the HIV epidemic on this population.

HIV infection, inflammation, immunosenescence, and aging

Although antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection prevents AIDS-related complications and prolongs life, it does not fully restore health. Long-term treated patients remain at higher than expected risk for a number of complications typically associated with aging, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and other end-organ diseases. The potential effect of HIV on health is perhaps most clearly exhibited by a number of immunologic abnormalities that persist despite effective suppression of HIV replication. These changes are consistent with some of the changes to the adaptive immune system that are seen in the very old ("immunosenescence") and that are likely related in part to persistent inflammation. HIV-associated inflammation and immunosenescence have been implicated as causally related to the premature onset of other end-organ diseases. Novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or reversing these immunologic defects may be necessary if HIV-infected patients are to achieve normal life span.

Valganciclovir reduces T cell activation in HIV-infected individuals with incomplete CD4+ T cell recovery on antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Elevated immune activation persists during treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and is associated with blunted CD4 recovery and premature mortality, but its causes remain incompletely characterized. We hypothesized that asymptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication might contribute to immune activation in this setting.

METHODS

Thirty antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-infected CMV-seropositive participants with CD4 counts <350 cells/mm(3) were randomized to receive valganciclovir 900 mg daily or placebo for 8 weeks, followed by an additional 4-week observation period. The primary outcome was the week 8 change in percentage of activated (CD38(+) HLA-DR(+)) CD8(+) T cells.

RESULTS

Fourteen participants were randomized to valganciclovir and 16 to placebo. Most participants (21 [70%] of 30) had plasma HIV RNA levels <75 copies/mL. The median CD4 count was 190 (IQR: 134-232) cells/mm(3), and 12 (40%) of 30 had detectable CMV DNA in saliva, plasma, or semen at baseline. CMV DNA continued to be detectable at weeks 4-12 in 7 (44%) of 16 placebo-treated participants, but in none of the valganciclovir-treated participants (P = .007). Valganciclovir-treated participants had significantly greater reductions in CD8 activation at weeks 8 (P = .03) and 12 (P = .02) than did placebo-treated participants. These trends were significant even among those with undetectable plasma HIV RNA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

CMV (and/or other herpesvirus) replication is a significant cause of immune activation in HIV-infected individuals with incomplete antiretroviral therapy-mediated CD4(+) T cell recovery.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT00264290.

When to initiate combined antiretroviral therapy to reduce mortality and AIDS-defining illness in HIV-infected persons in developed countries: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Most clinical guidelines recommend that AIDS-free, HIV-infected persons with CD4 cell counts below 0.350 × 10(9) cells/L initiate combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), but the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated remains a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated.

DESIGN

Prospective observational data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration and dynamic marginal structural models were used to compare cART initiation strategies for CD4 thresholds between 0.200 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.

SETTING

HIV clinics in Europe and the Veterans Health Administration system in the United States.

PATIENTS

20, 971 HIV-infected, therapy-naive persons with baseline CD4 cell counts at or above 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L and no previous AIDS-defining illnesses, of whom 8392 had a CD4 cell count that decreased into the range of 0.200 to 0.499 × 10(9) cells/L and were included in the analysis.

MEASUREMENTS

Hazard ratios and survival proportions for all-cause mortality and a combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.

RESULTS

Compared with initiating cART at the CD4 cell count threshold of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L, the mortality hazard ratio was 1.01 (95% CI, 0.84 to 1.22) for the 0.350 threshold and 1.20 (CI, 0.97 to 1.48) for the 0.200 threshold. The corresponding hazard ratios were 1.38 (CI, 1.23 to 1.56) and 1.90 (CI, 1.67 to 2.15), respectively, for the combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.

LIMITATIONS

CD4 cell count at cART initiation was not randomized. Residual confounding may exist.

CONCLUSION

Initiation of cART at a threshold CD4 count of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L increases AIDS-free survival. However, mortality did not vary substantially with the use of CD4 thresholds between 0.300 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.

HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration, Cain LE, Logan R, Robins JM, Sterne JAC, Sabin C, Bansi L, Justice A, Goulet J, van Sighem A, de Wolf F, Bucher HC, von Wyl V, Esteve A, Casabona J, del Amo J, Moreno S, Seng R, Meyer L, Perez-Hoyos S, Muga R, Lodi S, Lanoy E, Costagliola D, Hernan MA. When to initiate combined antiretroviral therapy to reduce mortality and AIDS-defining illness in HIV-infected persons in developed countries: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Most clinical guidelines recommend that AIDS-free, HIV-infected persons with CD4 cell counts below 0.350 × 10(9) cells/L initiate combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), but the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated remains a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated.

DESIGN

Prospective observational data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration and dynamic marginal structural models were used to compare cART initiation strategies for CD4 thresholds between 0.200 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.

SETTING

HIV clinics in Europe and the Veterans Health Administration system in the United States.

PATIENTS

20, 971 HIV-infected, therapy-naive persons with baseline CD4 cell counts at or above 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L and no previous AIDS-defining illnesses, of whom 8392 had a CD4 cell count that decreased into the range of 0.200 to 0.499 × 10(9) cells/L and were included in the analysis.

MEASUREMENTS

Hazard ratios and survival proportions for all-cause mortality and a combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.

RESULTS

Compared with initiating cART at the CD4 cell count threshold of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L, the mortality hazard ratio was 1.01 (95% CI, 0.84 to 1.22) for the 0.350 threshold and 1.20 (CI, 0.97 to 1.48) for the 0.200 threshold. The corresponding hazard ratios were 1.38 (CI, 1.23 to 1.56) and 1.90 (CI, 1.67 to 2.15), respectively, for the combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.

LIMITATIONS

CD4 cell count at cART initiation was not randomized. Residual confounding may exist.

CONCLUSION

Initiation of cART at a threshold CD4 count of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L increases AIDS-free survival. However, mortality did not vary substantially with the use of CD4 thresholds between 0.300 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.

Characteristics of non-AIDS-defining malignancies in the HAART era: a clinico-epidemiological study

Background

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADM) are becoming a major cause of mortality in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. We wished to investigate the incidence, risks factors and outcome of NADM in an urban cohort.

Methods

We carried out an observational cohort of HIV patients with 12,746 patient-years of follow up between January 2002 and March 2009. Socio-demographics and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with NADM were retrospectively compared with the rest of the cohort. Causes of death and risk factors associated with NADM were assessed using logistic regression. Survival analyses were performed with Kaplan-Meier estimates. Cancer incidences were compared with those of the general population of the Brussels-Capital Region using the standardized incidence ratio (SIR).

Results

Forty-five NADM were diagnosed. At inclusion in the study, patients with NADM were older than patients without NADM (47 years vs. 38 years, p < 0.001), had a longer history of HIV infection (59 months vs. 39 months, p = 0.0174), a lower nadir CD4 count (110 cells/mm³ vs. 224 cells/mm³, p < 0.0001) and a higher rate of previous AIDS events (33% vs. 20%, p = 0.0455) and of hepatitis C virus co-infection (22.2% vs. 10%, p = 0.0149). In multivariate analysis, age over 45 at baseline (OR 3.25; 95% CI 1.70-6.22) and a nadir CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm³ (OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.40-6.87) were associated with NADM. NADM were independently associated with higher mortality in the cohort (OR 14.79; 95% CI 6.95-31.49). Women with cancer, the majority of whom were of sub-Saharan African origin, had poorer survival compared with men. The SIR for both sexes were higher than expected for Hodgkin's lymphoma (17.78; 95% CI 6.49-38.71), liver cancers (8.73; 95% CI 2.35-22.34), anal cancers (22.67; 95% CI 8.28-49.34) and bladder cancers (3.79; 95% CI 1.02-9.70). The SIR for breast cancer was lower in women (SIR 0.29; 95% CI 0.06-0.85).

Conclusions

Age over 45 and a nadir CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm³ were predictive of NADM in our cohort. Mortality was high, especially in sub-Saharan African women. Cancers with increased incidences were Hodgkin's lymphoma and anal, bladder and liver cancers in both sexes; women had a lower incidence of breast cancer.

Lung cancer in HIV-positive patients

Malignancies account for more than a third of all deaths in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Although acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related mortality is decreasing with the introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy, the incidence of lung cancer in patients with HIV remains high. Lung cancer has now become the leading cause of mortality among the nonacquired immunodeficiency syndrome defining malignancies. Within the HIV population, the incidence of lung cancer is estimated to be approximately 2 to 4 times that of the general population. Often these patients present with advanced disease (stage III or IV) at a younger age and have an inferior overall survival, when compared with non-HIV patients. Development of lung cancer in patients with HIV has been linked to various factors including immunosuppression, CD4 count, viral load, and smoking. This article reviews the impact of HIV on the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment of lung cancer.

Causes of death and risk factors among HIV-infected persons in the HAART era: analysis of a large urban cohort

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine the clinical outcome in HIV-1-infected patients after more than 10 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

METHODS

We analyzed data from 1,236 treatment-naïve adults who had started HAART. The primary endpoint was the yearly prevalence of death for AIDS-related causes (ARC) or for non-AIDS related causes (non-ARC). The data from our cohort were compared with that of the general population (GP) of our region.

RESULTS

We observed that 116 patients died, and 58.6% of deaths were non-ARC. The death incidence decreased from 18.8% in 1998-1999 to 1.2% in 2008-2009. The leading causes of death were malignancies (35.3%), infections (21.6%), end-stage liver diseases (18.1%), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (6.9%). Yearly death rates were similar in the HIV-infected cohort and in the crude GP (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-2.5), but when adjusted for age, HIV-infected patients showed a greater risk (OR 7.4, 95% CI 4.1-13.4). The difference was still highly significant when the analysis was restricted to non-ARCs (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.07-9.2). Overall, malignancies (OR 5.7, 95% CI 2.6-12.8) and end-stage liver diseases (OR 35.0, 95% CI 15.5-78.8) were significantly more frequent than in the age-adjusted GP.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite HAART, HIV-infected patients are at greater risk of death compared to a reference uninfected population.

Cigarette smoking and mortality among HIV-infected individuals in Seattle, Washington (1996-2008)

HIV-infected individuals with access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are living longer and the causes of excess morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are becoming comparable to individuals without HIV infection. However, many PLWHA smoke cigarettes-a well known contributor to excess morbidity and mortality. To investigate the association between smoking and mortality among PLWHA during the HAART era (1996+), we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2,108 PLWHA enrolled in Seattle and King County's Adult and Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease Study. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality were obtained using Cox proportional hazards regression. Compared to never smokers, current smokers (aHR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 2.3) and individuals with an increased dose and/or duration of smoking were at greater risk of all-cause mortality. Although additional research is needed to evaluate the full effect of smoking on cause-specific mortality, smoking cessation programs should target PLWHA to further increase their life expectancy.

Haemoglobin and anaemia in the SMART study

BACKGROUND

Data from randomized trials on the development of anaemia after interruption of therapy are not well-described.

METHODS

A total of 2,248 patients from the SMART study were included. We used Cox proportional hazards models to investigate development of new (≤12 mg/dl for females and ≤14 mg/dl for males) or worsening (≤8 mg/dl if anaemic at randomization) anaemia and Poisson regression analyses to explore the relationship between anaemia and the development of AIDS, death or non-AIDS events.

RESULTS

Overall, 759 patients developed new or worsening anaemia: 420/1,106 (38.0%) in the drug conservation (DC) arm and 339/1127 (30.1%) in the viral suppression (VS) arm (P<0.0001). At 4 months after randomization, patients in the DC arm had a significantly increased risk of developing new or worsening anaemia (adjusted relative hazard 1.56, 95% CI 1.28-1.89). Currently anaemic patients had an increased incidence of AIDS (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 2.31, 95% CI 1.34-3.98), death (adjusted IRR 2.19, 95% CI 1.23-3.87) and non-AIDS events (adjusted IRR 2.98, 95% CI 2.01-4.40) compared to non-anaemic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who interrupted combination antiretroviral therapy had a higher risk of new or worsening anaemia. Anaemic patients had a higher incidence of AIDS, non-AIDS defining events or deaths, possibly due to deteriorating health and subclinical disease.

Immune restoration and onset of new AIDS-defining events with combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV type-1-infected immigrants in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

We investigated differences in immune restoration and onset of new AIDS-defining events on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) among HIV type-1 (HIV-1)-infected patients of different regional origin now living in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Treatment-naive adults reaching plasma viral load (pVL)<400 copies/ml within 9 months of starting cART were selected from the Netherlands ATHENA cohort. CD4(+) T-cell response on cART was determined over 7 years using mixed models. CD4(+) T-cell counts were excluded from the analyses at the first of two consecutive measurements of pVL≥400 copies/ml following prior suppression to <400 copies/ml. Multivariate analyses included gender, age, CD4(+) T-cell count and pVL prior to cART, hepatitis coinfection, HIV-1 transmission and region of origin (Western Europe/North America [WN], sub-Saharan Africa [SSA], Southeast Asia [SEA], Latin America/Caribbean [LAC] or other).

RESULTS

For 6,057 selected patients (WN 3,947, SSA 989, SEA 237, LAC 695 and other 189), median follow-up was 3.2 years (WN 3.3, SSA 2.9, SEA 3.2, LAC 2.7 and other 2.7). CD4(+) T-cell increase in the first 6 months of cART was lower in males than females (-26 cells/mm(3); P<0.0001) and in patients from SSA compared with WN (-36 cells/mm(3); P<0.0001). Because men from SSA started with lower CD4(+) T-cell counts than men from WN, they continued to lag behind and had lower absolute CD4(+) T-cell counts after 7 years of cART. Furthermore, cumulative tuberculosis incidence after 7 years of cART was higher in SSA compared with WN (4.5% versus 0.5%, hazard ratio 5.08, 95% confidence interval 2.22-11.60).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-1-infected immigrants from SSA have blunted immune restoration on fully suppressive cART and should be identified at an earlier disease stage. Our results call for more intensive screening for both latent and active tuberculosis in these patients.

Early development of non-hodgkin lymphoma following initiation of newer class antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected patients - implications for immune reconstitution

Background

In the HAART era, the incidence of HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is decreasing. We describe cases of NHL among patients with multi-class antiretroviral resistance diagnosed rapidly after initiating newer-class antiretrovirals, and examine the immunologic and virologic factors associated with potential IRIS-mediated NHL.

Methods

During December 2006 to January 2008, eligible HIV-infected patients from two affiliated clinics accessed Expanded Access Program antiretrovirals of raltegravir, etravirine, and/or maraviroc with optimized background. A NHL case was defined as a pathologically-confirmed tissue diagnosis in a patient without prior NHL developing symptoms after starting newer-class antiretrovirals. Mean change in CD4 and log₁₀ VL in NHL cases compared to controls was analyzed at week 12, a time point at which values were collected among all cases.

Results

Five cases occurred among 78 patients (mean incidence = 64.1/1000 patient-years). All cases received raltegravir and one received etravirine. Median symptom onset from newer-class antiretroviral initiation was 5 weeks. At baseline, the median CD4 and VL for NHL cases (n = 5) versus controls (n = 73) were 44 vs.117 cells/mm3 (p = 0.09) and 5.2 vs. 4.2 log₁₀ (p = 0.06), respectively. The mean increase in CD4 at week 12 in NHL cases compared to controls was 13 (n = 5) vs. 74 (n = 50)(p = 0.284). Mean VL log₁₀ reduction in NHL cases versus controls at week 12 was 2.79 (n = 5) vs. 1.94 (n = 50)(p = 0.045).

Conclusions

An unexpectedly high rate of NHL was detected among treatment-experienced patients achieving a high level of virologic response with newer-class antiretrovirals. We observed trends toward lower baseline CD4 and higher baseline VL in NHL cases, with a significantly greater decline in VL among cases by 12 weeks. HIV-related NHL can occur in the setting of immune reconstitution. Potential immunologic, virologic, and newer-class antiretroviral-specific factors associated with rapid development of NHL warrants further investigation.

Cancers in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD): a retrospective analysis of risk factors

Background

This retrospective survey describes types of cancers diagnosed in HIV-infected subjects in Asia, and assesses risk factors for cancer in HIV-infected subjects using contemporaneous HIV-infected controls without cancer.

Methods

TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) sites retrospectively reviewed clinic medical records to determine cancer diagnoses since 2000. For each diagnosis, the following data were recorded: date, type, stage, method of diagnosis, demographic data, medical history, and HIV-related information. For risk factor analyses, two HIV-infected control subjects without cancer diagnoses were also selected. Cancers were grouped as AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs), and non-ADCs. Non-ADCs were further categorized as being infection related (NADC-IR) and unrelated (NADC-IUR).

Results

A total of 617 patients were included in this study: 215 cancer cases and 402 controls from 13 sites. The majority of cancer cases were male (71%). The mean age (SD) for cases was 39 (10.6), 46 (11.5) and 44 (13.7) for ADCs, NADC-IURs and NADCs-IR, respectively. The majority (66%) of cancers were ADCs (16% Kaposi sarcoma, 40% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 9% cervical cancer). The most common NADCs were lung (6%), breast (5%) and hepatocellular carcinoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma (2% each). There were also three (1.4%) cases of leiomyosarcoma reported in this study. In multivariate analyses, individuals with CD4 counts above 200 cells/mm³ were approximately 80% less likely to be diagnosed with an ADC (p < 0.001). Older age (OR: 1.39, p = 0.001) and currently not receiving antiretroviral treatment (OR: 0.29, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of NADCs overall, and similarly for NADCs-IUR. Lower CD4 cell count and higher CDC stage (p = 0.041) were the only independent predictors of NADCs-IR.

Conclusions

The spectrum of cancer diagnoses in the Asia region currently does not appear dissimilar to that observed in non-Asian HIV populations. One interesting finding was the cases of leiomyosarcoma, a smooth-muscle tumour, usually seen in children and young adults with AIDS, yet overall quite rare. Further detailed studies are required to better describe the range of cancers in this region, and to help guide the development of screening programmes.

Impact of baseline antiretroviral resistance status on efficacy outcomes among patients receiving maraviroc plus optimized background therapy in the MOTIVATE 1 and 2 trials

PURPOSE

The MOTIVATE studies assessed maraviroc with optimized background therapy (OBT) in treatment-experienced patients with R5 HIV-1. This post hoc analysis compared outcomes between patients with and without HIV-1 resistance to epsilon3 classes of antiretrovirals at screening (triple-class-resistant [TCR] versus not-TCR [nTCR]).

METHODS

Week 48 changes (N = 635) in HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ cells were compared between TCR and nTCR groups receiving twice-daily maraviroc+OBT or placebo+OBT.

RESULTS

HIV-1 RNA change from baseline on maraviroc was significantly greater in the nTCR group (-2.05 vs -1.74 log(10) copies/mL; 95% CI difference 0.05-0.58 log(10)) though proportions <400 or <50 copies/mL were not. Week 48 CD4 increases were significantly greater in the nTCR group overall (mean +150 vs +110 cells/mm(3); 95% CI difference 18-62 cells/mm(3)) and in those with <50 RNA copies/mL (nTCR +192 vs +126 cells/mm(3); 95% CI difference, 19-93 cells/mm(3)) or receiving > or = 2 active OBT agents (weighted score; nTCR +184 vs +125 cells/mm3; 95% CI difference 8-110 cells/mm(3)).

CONCLUSIONS

Virologic suppression on maraviroc was greater in the nTCR than the TCR group, though proportions <50 or 400 copies/mL were not significantly different. Optimal CD4 increases on maraviroc appeared to accrue from initiation before development of TCR virus.

Serious fatal and nonfatal non-AIDS-defining illnesses in Europe

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the incidence and risk factors for serious non-AIDS-defining events.

METHODS

The incidence of non-AIDS events (malignancies, end-stage renal disease, liver failure, pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease), and AIDS after January 1, 2001, was calculated; Poisson regression was used to investigate factors associated with non-AIDS and AIDS.

RESULTS

Among 12,844 patients, 1058 were diagnosed with a non-AIDS event [incidence 1.77 per 100 person-years of follow-up; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66 to 1.87]; 462 patients (43.7%) died. The incidence of AIDS (1025 diagnoses; 339 deaths, 33.1%) was 1.72 per 100 person-years of follow-up (1.61 to 1.83). After adjustment, older age [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.71 per 10 years older, 95% CI: 1.60 to 1.83], diabetes (IRR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.82) and hypertension (IRR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.43 to 1.87) were associated with non-AIDS events. Compared with patients without an event, there was a 4-fold increased risk of death after an AIDS event (relative hazard: 4.14; 95% CI 3.47 to 4.94) and almost a 7-fold increased risk of death after a non-AIDS event (relative hazard: 6.72; 95% CI: 5.61 to 8.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-AIDS events were common in the combination antiretroviral therapy era and associated with considerably mortality. Evidence on the impact of modifying immunodeficiency and lifestyle-related factors on the risk of non-AIDS events in HIV-infected persons is an important but unmet research need.

The effect of aging, nutrition, and exercise during HIV infection

Medical advances continue to change the face of human immunodeficiency virus- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). As life expectancy increases, the number of people living with HIV rises, presenting new challenges for the management of a chronic condition. Aging, nutrition, and physical activity can influence outcomes in other chronic conditions, and emerging data show that each of these factors can impact viral replication and the immune system in HIV. HIV infection results in a decline of the immune system through the depletion of CD4+ T cells. From initial infection, viral replication is a continuous phenomenon. Immunosenescence, a hallmark of aging, results in an increased susceptibility to infections secondary to a delayed immune response, and this phenomenon may be increased in HIV-infected patients. Optimal nutrition is an important adjunct in the clinical care of patients with HIV. Nutritional interventions may improve the quality and span of life and symptom management, support the effectiveness of medications, and improve the patient's resistance to infections and other disease complications by altering immunity. Moderate physical activity can improve many immune parameters, reduce the risk of acute infection, and combat metabolic abnormalities. As people with HIV age, alternative therapies such as nutrition and physical activity may complement medical management.

In vitro naïve T cell proliferation failure predicts poor post-immunization responses to neoantigen, but not recall antigens, in HIV-infection

Immune reconstitution after HAART is incomplete, but no widely accepted method to quantify subclinical immune deficiency is available. We immunized 9 HIV-negative subjects and 29 HIV-infected patients with CD4>/=450 cells/microL and undetectable HIV RNA levels with 2 doses of diphtheria/tetanus toxoid (TT) and KLH, a presumed neoantigen. We quantified the response by lymphoproliferative assay, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), and antibody titers up to 59days after enrollment. We assessed T cell proliferative capacity using anti-Vbeta3 and anti-Vbeta5 antibody stimulation, which we herein show induced predominant proliferation of naïve T cells. Subjects with detectable responses to KLH tended to exhibit greater proliferative responses to anti-Vbeta3/Vbeta5 stimulation; no such pattern was seen with response to TT. Several measures of in vitro T cell proliferative capacity correlated significantly with DTH and antibody responses to KLH, but not with TT responses; this association was independent of naïve T cell numbers. Our results indicate that naïve T cell proliferation predicts response to neo-, but not recall antigens, and suggest that it may be a meaningful reflection of in vivo immune competence in HIV-infected persons.

Medical and societal consequences of late presentation

Patients presenting late with HIV infection are at a higher risk of clinical events, are difficult to treat and have a higher mortality compared with those who present earlier. Indeed, being diagnosed too late for effective treatment has been shown to be a common scenario leading to death. The increased risk for opportunistic diseases and increased mortality are associated with low CD4(+) T-cell counts. In addition to the detrimental effect on the health of the individual, late presentation also creates a significant societal burden because it is associated with increased risk of HIV transmission and increased resource use. All of these factors highlight the benefit of earlier testing, diagnosis and treatment of HIV.

Long-term increase in CD4+ T-cell counts during combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection

OBJECTIVE

To inform guidelines concerning when to initiate combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), we investigated whether CD4(+) T-cell counts (CD4 cell counts) continue to increase over long periods of time on ART. Losses-to-follow-up and some patients discontinuing ART at higher CD4 cell counts hamper such evaluation, but novel statistical methods can help address these issues. We estimated the long-term CD4 cell count trajectory accounting for losses-to-follow-up and treatment discontinuations.

DESIGN

The study population included 898 US patients first initiating ART in a randomized trial (AIDS Clinical Trials Group 384); 575 were subsequently prospectively followed in an observational study (AIDS Clinical Trials Group Longitudinal Linked Randomized Trials).

METHODS

Inverse probability of censoring weighting statistical methods were used to estimate the CD4 cell count trajectory accounting for losses-to-follow-up and ART discontinuations, overall and for pretreatment CD4 cell count categories (500 cells/microl).

RESULTS

Median CD4 cell count increased from 270 cells/microl pre-ART to an estimated 556 cells/microl at 3 and 532 cells/microl at 7 years after starting ART in analyses ignoring treatment discontinuations, and to 570 and 640 cells/microl, respectively, had all patients continued ART. However, even had ART been continued, an estimated 25, 9, 3, and 2% of patients with pretreatment CD4 cell counts of 200 or less, 201-350, 351-500, and more than 500 cells/microl would have had CD4 cell counts of 350 cells/microl or less after 7 years.

CONCLUSION

If patients remain on ART, CD4 cell counts increase in most patients for at least 7 years. However, the substantial percentage of patients starting therapy at low CD4 cell counts who still had low CD4 cell counts after 7 years provides support for ART initiation at higher CD4 cell counts.

Immunodeficiency and the risk of serious clinical endpoints in a well studied cohort of treated HIV-infected patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relative predictive value of CD4(+) metrics for serious clinical endpoints.

DESIGN

Observational.

METHODS

Patients (3012; 20 317 person-years) from control arms of ESPRIT and SILCAAT were followed prospectively. We used Cox regression to identify CD4(+) metrics (latest, baseline and nadir CD4(+) cell count, latest CD4(+)%, time spent with CD4(+) count below certain thresholds and CD4(+) slopes) independently predictive of all-cause mortality, non-AIDS deaths, non-AIDS (cardiovascular, hepatic, renal and non-AIDS malignancy) and AIDS events. Akaike information criteria (AIC) were calculated for each model. Significant metrics (P < 0.05) were then additionally adjusted for latest CD4(+) cell count.

RESULTS

Non-AIDS deaths occurred at a higher rate than AIDS deaths [rate ratio: 6.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.1-8.1], and non-AIDS events likewise (rate ratio: 1.72, 95% CI 1.65-1.79). Latest CD4(+) cell count was strongly predictive of lower risk of death (hazard ratio per log2 rise: 0.48, 95% CI 0.43-0.54), with lowest AIC of all metrics. CD4(+) slope over seven visits, after additional adjustment for latest CD4(+) cell count, was the only metric to be an independent predictor for all-cause (hazard ratio for slope <-10 cells/microl per month vs. 0 +/- 10: 3.04, 95% CI 1.98-4.67) and non-AIDS deaths (hazard ratio for slope <-10 cells/microl per month vs. 0 +/- 10: 2.62, 95% CI 1.62-4.22). Latest CD4(+) cell count (per log(2) rise) was the best predictor across all four endpoints and predicted hepatic (hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.33-0.63) and renal events (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.21-0.70), but not cardiovascular events (hazard ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.77-1.43) or non-AIDS cancers (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.59-1.03).

CONCLUSION

Latest CD4(+) cell count is the best predictor of serious endpoints. CD4(+) slope independently predicts all-cause and non-AIDS deaths.

Antiretroviral therapy and management of HIV infection

Antiretroviral therapy of HIV infection has changed a uniformly fatal into a potentially chronic disease. There are now 17 drugs in common use for HIV treatment. Patients who can access and adhere to combination therapy should be able to achieve durable, potentially lifelong suppression of HIV replication. Despite the unquestioned success of antiretroviral therapy, limitations persist. Treatment success needs strict lifelong drug adherence. Although the widely used drugs are generally well tolerated, most have some short-term toxic effects and all have the potential for both known and unknown long-term toxic effects. Drug and administration costs limit treatment in resource-poor regions, and are a growing concern even in resource rich settings. Finally, complete or near complete control of viral replication does not fully restore health. Long-term treated patients who are on an otherwise effective regimen often show persistent immune dysfunction and have higher than expected risk for various non-AIDS-related complications, including heart, bone, liver, kidney, and neurocognitive diseases.

Connecting discovery and delivery: the need for more evidence on effective smoking cessation strategies for people living with HIV/AIDS

Smoking prevalence among the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS is 2 to 3 times higher than the 19.8% rate among the general population. Since 1990, scientists have worked toward the discovery of health risks related to smoking in people living with HIV/AIDS; however, few studies have evaluated the delivery of smoking cessation interventions for this population. Increasing linkages between discovery science and delivery science may facilitate a faster transition to delivery of smoking cessation interventions for people living with HIV/AIDS.