Could better tolerated HIV drug regimens improve patient outcome?

Factors associated to modification of first-line antiretroviral therapy due to adverse events in people living with HIV/AIDS

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has modified the outcome of patients with HIV infection, providing virological control and reducing mortality. However, there are several reasons as to why patients may discontinue their antiretroviral therapy, with adverse events being one of the main reasons reported in the literature. This is a case-control nested in a cohort of people living with HIV/AIDS, conducted to identify the incidence of ART modification due to adverse events and the associated factors, in two referral services in Recife, Brazil, between 2011 and 2014. Of the modifications occurred in the first year of ART, 25.7% were driven by adverse events. The median time elapsed between initiating ART and the first modification due to adverse events was 70.5 days (95% CI: 26-161 days). The main adverse events were dermatological, neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal. Dermatological events were the earliest to appear after initiating ART. Efavirenz was the most prescribed and most modified drug during the study period. The group of participants who used zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz had a 2-fold greater chance (adjusted OR: 2.16 95% CI: 1.28-3.65) of switching ART due to adverse events when compared to the group that used tenofovir with lamivudine and efavirenz.

Dutrebis (lamivudine and raltegravir) for use in combination with other antiretroviral products for the treatment of HIV-1 infection

Raltegravir and lamivudine have been part of highly active therapy regimens throughout the past years of antiretroviral therapy. A fixed-dose, single-tablet regimen comprising a non-poloxamer formulation of the integrase inhibitor raltegravir and the transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine (raltegravir/lamivudine; Dutrebis(®)) has been recently licensed for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. In several Phase I pharmacokinetic studies, one Dutrebis (150 mg lamivudine/300 mg raltegravir) fixed-dose combination tablet showed a higher bioavailability but comparable lamivudine and 400 mg raltegravir poloxamer exposures. Thus, the co-administration of raltegravir together with lamivudine created a potent, effective, well-tolerated antiretroviral combination, which could be more convenient for the patient. However, the disadvantage of twice a day administration, and the existence of other fixed-dose combinations limit its widespread clinical use. This article reviews pharmacokinetics data and appraises their potential use in current and future HIV therapy.

The influence of patient beliefs and treatment satisfaction on the discontinuation of current first-line antiretroviral regimens

OBJECTIVES

Large cohort studies have shown a high rate of first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimen discontinuation in HIV-infected patients, attributed to characteristics of the cART regimen or toxicity.

METHODS

A cohort study of 274 patients receiving a first-line regimen was carried out. Patients' perceptions and beliefs prior to initiation were assessed using an attitude towards medication scale (0-15 points), and their satisfaction during therapy was assessed using an HIV treatment satisfaction questionnaire (HIVTSQ). Treatment discontinuation was defined as any switch in the cART regimen.

RESULTS

During 474.8 person-years of follow-up, 63 (23%) patients changed their cART regimen, mainly because of toxicity/intolerance (42; 67%). The overall rate of change was 13.2 per 100 patient-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.1-16.4 per 100 patient-years]. An efavirenz (EFV)-based single tablet regimen showed the highest rate of adverse events (27%), but the lowest rate of change (16%; 7.44 per 100 patient-years). Cox regression revealed a decreased hazard of first regimen termination with better initial attitude towards drugs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.76; 95% CI 0.62-0.93; P < 0.01] and higher satisfaction (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.89-0.99; P = 0.01), and an increased hazard of termination with the presence of adverse events (HR 7.7; 95% CI 2.4-11.6; P < 0.01). One-third of patients (18 of 59; 31%) with mild/moderate adverse events (which were mainly central nervous system symptoms) continued the regimen; these patients, compared with those discontinuing therapy, showed better perception of therapy (mean score 14.4 versus 12.1, respectively; P = 0.05) and greater satisfaction during therapy (mean score 50.6 versus 44.6, respectively; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' beliefs and satisfaction with therapy influence the durability of the first antiretroviral regimen. These patient-related factors modulate the impact of mild adverse events, and could explain differences in the rate of discontinuation.

[Potential role of rilpivirine in simplification regimens]

Antiretroviral simplification is a useful strategy to improve adherence and quality of life and prevent or reverse adverse effects in patients with HIV infection. The availability of new drugs with high efficacy and better tolerability in once-daily formulations or in fixed-dose combinations may be a better option for prolonged treatment. Rilpivirine, a new nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), has shown high antiviral efficacy in clinical trials with treatment-naïve patients, with a lower incidence of adverse effects and good tolerability. Its use in simplification regimens has been evaluated after the switch from efavirenz, demonstrating that dose adjustment is not required. In a large randomized study in patients who were receiving protease inhibitors, virological efficacy was maintained, with a lower incidence of adverse effects and improved lipid parameters and cardiovascular risk score. Given the ease of administration and good tolerability of this drug, recent communications at congresses have shown the rapid applicability of the results of studies in daily clinical practice in this scenario.

Durability of the first antiretroviral treatment regimen and reasons for change in patients with HIV infection

BACKGROUND

To study the durability of the drugs and coformulations currently used in the first treatment regimen of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV patients, and to examine the reasons for changing this medication.

METHODS

A retrospective observational multicenter study of patients with HIV infection who started a first-line ART regimen between January 2007 and June 2010. The primary outcome variable was the durability of this first ART regimen until discontinued or amended and the reasons for the change. Survival analysis of durability was performed using Kaplan-Meyer curves analysis, and a Cox multiple regression model was constructed to identify associated factors.

RESULTS

A first-line ART regimen was initiated for 600 patients; after 1 year, it had been changed in 172 (28%) cases, with a median duration of 31 months. The main reason for change was toxicity (20.5% of all patients), followed by loss to follow-up (8.3%) and virological failure (5.3%). The most common type of toxicity was gastrointestinal (30%), followed by cutaneous (23%) and neuropsychiatric (18%). The use of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) was associated with greater durability than that of protease inhibitors (43 months vs 21 months; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The durability of the first-line ART regimen, based on current antiretroviral drugs and coformulations, is about 2.5 years, with toxicity being the main reason for its modification. Gastrointestinal toxicity is the type most commonly reported. NNRTI treatment is associated with greater durability of the first treatment regimen.

Increases in duration of first highly active antiretroviral therapy over time (1996-2009) and associated factors in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens changes occur frequently among HIV-infected persons. Duration and type of initial highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and factors associated with regimen switching were evaluated in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

METHODS

Participants were classified according to the calendar period of HAART initiation: T1 (1996-2001), T2 (2002-2005), and T3 (2006-2009). Kaplan-Meier curves depicted time from HAART initiation to first regimen changes within 5.5 years. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine factors associated with time to switching.

RESULTS

Of 1009 participants, 796 changed regimen within 5.5 years after HAART initiation. The percentage of participants who switched declined from 85% during T1 to 49% in T3. The likelihood of switching in T3 decreased by 50% (P < 0.01) compared with T1 after adjustment for pre-HAART ART use, age, race, and CD4 count. Incomplete HIV suppression decreased over time (P < 0.01) but predicted switching across all time periods. Lower HAART adherence (≤95% of prescribed doses) was predictive of switching only in T1. In T2, central nervous system symptoms predicted switching [relative hazard (RH) = 1.7; P = 0.012]. Older age at HAART initiation was associated with increased switching in T1 (RH = 1.03 per year increase) and decreased switching in T2 (RH = 0.97 per year increase).

CONCLUSIONS

During the first 15 years of the HAART era, initial HAART regimen duration lengthened and regimen discontinuation rates diminished. Both HIV RNA nonsuppression and poor adherence predicted switching before 2001 while side effects that were possibly ART related were more prominent during T2.

Changes in first-line cART regimens and short-term clinical outcome between 1996 and 2010 in The Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

Document progress in HIV-treatment in The Netherlands since 1996 by reviewing changing patterns of cART use and relating those to trends in patients' short-term clinical outcomes between 1996 and 2010.

DESIGN AND METHODS

1996-2010 data from 10,278 patients in the Dutch ATHENA national observational cohort were analysed. The annual number of patients starting a type of regimen was quantified. Trends in the following outcomes were described: i) recovery of 150 CD4 cells/mm(3) within 12 months of starting cART; ii) achieving viral load (VL) suppression ≤1,000 copies/ml within 12 months of starting cART; iii) switching from first-line to second-line regimen within three years of starting treatment; and iv) all-cause mortality rate per 100 person-years within three years of starting treatment.

RESULTS

Between 1996 and 2010, first-line regimens changed from lamivudine/zidovudine-based or lamivudine/stavudine-based regimens with unboosted-PIs to tenofovir with either emtricitabine or lamivudine with NNRTIs. Mortality rates did not change significantly over time. VL suppression and CD4 recovery improved over time, and the incidence of switching due to virological failure and toxicity more than halved between 1996 and 2010. These effects appear to be related to the use of new regimens rather than improvements in clinical care.

CONCLUSION

The use of first-line cART in the Netherlands closely follows changes in guidelines, to the benefit of patients. While there was no significant improvement in mortality, newer drugs with better tolerability and simpler dosing resulted in improved immunological and virological recovery and reduced incidences of switching due to toxicity and virological failure.