HCV cure: an appropriate moment to reduce cannabis use in people living with HIV? (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH data)

BACKGROUND

Thanks to direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be cured, with similar rates in HCV-infected and HIV-HCV co-infected patients. HCV cure is likely to foster behavioral changes in psychoactive substance use, which is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH). Cannabis is one substance that is very commonly used by PLWH, sometimes for therapeutic purposes. We aimed to identify correlates of cannabis use reduction following HCV cure in HIV-HCV co-infected cannabis users and to characterize persons who reduced their use.

METHODS

We used data collected on HCV-cured cannabis users in a cross-sectional survey nested in the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort of HIV-HCV co-infected patients, to perform logistic regression, with post-HCV cure cannabis reduction as the outcome, and socio-behavioral characteristics as potential correlates. We also characterized the study sample by comparing post-cure substance use behaviors between those who reduced their cannabis use and those who did not.

RESULTS

Among 140 HIV-infected cannabis users, 50 and 5 had reduced and increased their use, respectively, while 85 had not changed their use since HCV cure. Cannabis use reduction was significantly associated with tobacco use reduction, a decrease in fatigue level, paying more attention to one's dietary habits since HCV cure, and pre-HCV cure alcohol abstinence (p = 0.063 for alcohol use reduction).

CONCLUSIONS

Among PLWH using cannabis, post-HCV cure cannabis reduction was associated with tobacco use reduction, improved well-being, and adoption of healthy behaviors. The management of addictive behaviors should therefore be encouraged during HCV treatment.

Microelimination or Not? The Changing Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection in France 2012–2018

Background

The arrival of highly effective, well-tolerated, direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) led to a dramatic decrease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV–coinfected patients are deemed a priority population for HCV elimination, while a rise in recently acquired HCV infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been described. We describe the variations in HIV-HCV epidemiology in the French Dat’AIDS cohort.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of persons living with HIV (PLWH) from 2012 to 2018. We determined HCV prevalence, HCV incidence, proportion of viremic patients, treatment uptake, and mortality rate in the full cohort and by HIV risk factors.

Results

From 2012 to 2018, 50 861 PLWH with a known HCV status were followed up. During the period, HCV prevalence decreased from 15.4% to 13.5%. HCV prevalence among new HIV cases increased from 1.9% to 3.5% in MSM but remained stable in other groups. Recently acquired HCV incidence increased from 0.36/100 person-years to 1.25/100 person-years in MSM. The proportion of viremic patients decreased from 67.0% to 8.9%. MSM became the first group of viremic patients in 2018 (37.9%). Recently acquired hepatitis represented 59.2% of viremic MSM in 2018. DAA treatment uptake increased from 11.4% to 61.5%. More treatments were initiated in MSM in 2018 (41.2%) than in intravenous drug users (35.6%). In MSM, treatment at the acute phase represented 30.0% of treatments in 2018.

Conclusions

A major shift in HCV epidemiology was observed in PLWH in France from 2012 to 2018, leading to a unique situation in which the major group of HCV transmission in 2018 was MSM.

Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02898987.

Treatment outcomes of integrase inhibitors, boosted protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in antiretroviral-naïve persons starting treatment

OBJECTIVES

Although outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials, experiences from subpopulations defined by age, CD4 count or viral load (VL) in heterogeneous real-world settings are limited.

METHODS

The study design was an international multicohort collaboration. Logistic regression was used to compare virological and immunological outcomes at 12 ± 3 months after starting ART with an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), contemporary nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or boosted protease inhibitor (PI/b) with two nucleos(t)ides after 1 January 2012. The composite treatment outcome (cTO) defined success as VL < 200 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL with no regimen change and no AIDS/death events. Immunological success was defined as a CD4 count > 750 cells/μL or a 33% increase where the baseline CD4 count was ≥ 500 cells/μL. Poisson regression compared clinical failures (AIDS/death ≥ 14 days after starting ART). Interactions between ART class and age, CD4 count, and VL were determined for each endpoint.

RESULTS

Of 5198 ART-naïve persons in the International Cohort Consortium of Infectious Diseases (RESPOND), 45.4% started INSTIs, 26.0% PI/b and 28.7% NNRTIs; 880 (17.4%) were aged > 50 years, 2539 (49.4%) had CD4 counts < 350 cells/μL and 1891 (36.8%) had VL > 100 000 copies/mL. Differences in virological and immunological success and clinical failure among ART classes were similar across age groups (≤ 40, 40-50 and > 50 years), CD4 count categories (≤ 350 vs. > 350 cells/μL) and VL categories at ART initiation (≤ 100 000 vs. > 100 000 copies/mL), with all investigated interactions being nonsignificant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences among ART classes in virological, immunological and clinical outcomes in ART-naïve participants were consistent irrespective of age, immune suppression or VL at ART initiation. While confounding by indication cannot be excluded, this provides reassuring evidence that such subpopulations will equally benefit from contemporary ART.

Post-exposure prophylaxis completion and condom use in the context of potential sexual exposure to HIV

OBJECTIVES

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) care remains a challenge for individuals with potential sexual exposure to HIV in terms of PEP completion and ongoing risk behaviours.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was carried out on data from the French Dat'AIDS prevention cohort (NCT03795376) for individuals evaluated for PEP between 2004 and 2017. A multivariable analysis was performed of predictors of both PEP completion and condom use [odds ratios (ORs)] and their associated probabilities (P, with P > 95% being clinically relevant).

RESULTS

Overall, 29 060 sexual exposures to HIV were evaluated for PEP [36% in men who have sex with men (MSM) and 64% in heterosexuals]. Overall, 12 different PEP regimens were offered in 19 240 cases (46%). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) was the preferred backbone (n = 14 304; 74%). We observed a shift from boosted protease inhibitor-based regimens to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor- or integrase inhibitor-based regimens in recent years. Overall, 20% of PEP prescriptions were prematurely discontinued. Older age, MSM, intercourse with a sex worker, rape and intercourse with a known HIV-infected source patient were factors associated with increased rates of PEP completion (OR > 1; P > 98%). None of the 12 PEP regimens was associated with premature discontinuation. We also found 12 774 cases of unprotected sexual intercourse (48%). Condom use decreased (OR < 1; P > 99%) with the year of exposure, and was lower in MSM and rape victims. Condom use increased (OR > 1, P > 99%) with age, and was higher in those who had intercourse with a sex worker or with a female partner and in those with knowledge of the partner's HIV status.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide new insights into how rates of condom use and PEP completion might be improved in those receiving PEP by targeting certain groups of individuals for interventions. In particular, youth and MSM at risk should be linked in a prevention-to-care continuum.

Kaposi sarcoma among people living with HIV in the French DAT'AIDS cohort between 2010 and 2015

Background

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the risk of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), KS cases still occur in HIV‐infected people.

Objective

To describe all KS cases observed between 2010 and 2015 in a country with high ART coverage.

Methods

Retrospective study using longitudinal data from 44 642 patients in the French Dat’AIDS multicenter cohort. Patients’ characteristics were described at KS diagnosis according to ART exposure and to HIV‐plasma viral load (HIV‐pVL) (≤50 or >50) copies/mL.

Results

Among the 209 KS cases diagnosed during the study period, 33.2% occurred in ART naïve patients, 17.3% in ART‐experienced patients and 49.5% in patients on ART, of whom 23% for more than 6 months. Among these patients, 24 (11.5%) had HIV‐pVL ≤50 cp/mL, and 16 (66%) were treated with a boosted‐PI‐based regimen. The distribution of KS localization did not differ by ART status nor by year of diagnosis.

Limitations

Data on human herpesvirus 8, treatment modalities for KS and response rate were not collected.

Conclusion

Half of KS cases observed in the study period occurred in patients not on ART, reflecting the persistence of late HIV diagnosis. Factors associated with KS in patients on ART with HIV‐pVL ≤50 cp/mL remain to be explored.

Missed opportunities of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in France: a retrospective analysis in the French DAT'AIDS cohort

BACKGROUND

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was implemented in France in November 2015 based on individual-level risk factors for HIV infection. We evaluated the proportion of missed opportunities for PrEP among newly HIV-diagnosed people entering the Dat'AIDS cohort in 2016.

METHODS

Multicenter retrospective analysis in 15 French HIV clinical centers of patients with a new diagnosis of HIV infection. Among them we differentiated patients according to the estimated date of infection: those occurring in the PrEP area (a previous negative HIV test in the last 12 months or those with an incomplete HIV-1 western blot (WB) with no HIV-1 anti-Pol-antibody at time of HIV diagnosis) and those in the pre-PrEP area (older infections). Epidemiological, biological and clinical data at HIV diagnosis were collected. Clinicians retrospectively identified potential eligibility for PrEP based on individual-level risk factors for HIV infection among those infected in the PrEP area.

RESULTS

Among 966 patients with a new HIV diagnosis, 225 (23.3%) were infected in the PrEP area and 121 (53.8%) had complete data allowing evaluation of PrEP eligibility. Among them, 110 (91%) would have been eligible for PrEP, median age 31 years, with 68 (75.6%) born in France and 10 (11.1%) in Central/West Africa, with more than one previous STI in 19 (15.7%). The main eligibility criteria for PrEP were being a man who had sex with men or transgender 91 (82.7%) with at least one of the following criteria: unprotected anal sex with ≥2 partners in the last 6 months: 67 (60.9%); bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the last 12 months: 33 (30%); Use of psychoactive substances in a sexual context (chemsex): 16 (14.5%). PrEP was indicated for other HIV risk factors in 25 (22.7%).

CONCLUSION

With 91% (110/121) of patients infected in the PrEP area eligible for PrEP, this study highlights the high potential of PrEP in avoiding new infection in France but also shows a persistent delay in HIV testing. Thus, an important limit on PrEP implementation in France could be insufficient screening and care access.

Factors associated with deaths from suicide in a French nationwide HIV-infected cohort

OBJECTIVES

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at a higher risk of dying by suicide than the general population. Epidemiological data regarding determinants of suicide in PLHIV are scarce. The aim of this study was thus to study demographic, socio-economic, psychiatric history and immunovirological characteristics associated with death from suicide in the French multicenter Dat'AIDS cohort, from January 2000 to July 2013.

METHODS

This was a nested case-control study. All deceased PLHIV during the study period who died by suicide and whose medical files could be checked were included as cases. Controls were selected using incidence density sampling. For each case, up to four controls were selected among all actively followed PLHIV at the index date (date of death of cases). Controls were matched for time from HIV diagnosis (5-year periods) and clinical centre.

RESULTS

Seventy cases and 279 controls were included in the study. By multivariable analysis, the factors significantly associated with death from suicide were: not having children, active or substituted drug consumption, alcohol intake > 20 g/day or history of alcohol abuse, history of depressive disorder and/or of attempted suicide, and psychotropic drug intake. Conversely, age, gender, country of birth, positive HCV serology and HIV-related factors, such as AIDS status, use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), nadir and current CD4 counts and HIV viral load, were not significantly associated with the risk of death from suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

In the cART era, HIV-related factors are not associated with a higher risk of suicide mortality. Suicide prevention measures should target PLHIV with the psychological morbidities observed in our cohort.

Long-term effectiveness of recommended boosted protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy in Europe

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term response to antiretroviral treatment (ART) based on atazanavir/ritonavir (ATZ/r)-, darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r)-, and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-containing regimens.

METHODS

Data were analysed for 5678 EuroSIDA-enrolled patients starting a DRV/r-, ATZ/r- or LPV/r-containing regimen between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2013. Separate analyses were performed for the following subgroups of patients: (1) ART-naïve subjects (8%) at ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r) initiation; (2) ART-experienced individuals (44%) initiating the new PI/r with a viral load (VL) ≤500 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL; and (3) ART-experienced patients (48%) initiating the new PI/r with a VL >500 copies/mL. Virological failure (VF) was defined as two consecutive VL measurements >200 copies/mL ≥24 weeks after PI/r initiation. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox models were used to compare risks of failure by PI/r-based regimen. The main analysis was performed with intention-to-treat (ITT) ignoring treatment switches.

RESULTS

The time to VF favoured DRV/r over ATZ/r, and both were superior to LPV/r (log-rank test; P < 0.02) in all analyses. Nevertheless, the risk of VF in ART-naïve patients was similar regardless of the PI/r initiated after controlling for potential confounders. The risk of VF in both treatment-experienced groups was lower for DRV/r than for ATZ/r, which, in turn, was lower than for LPV/r-based ART.

CONCLUSIONS

Although confounding by indication and calendar year cannot be completely ruled out, in ART-experienced subjects the long-term effectiveness of DRV/r-containing regimens appears to be greater than that of ATZ/r and LPV/r.

Hospitalization of HIV positive patients: Significant demand affecting all hospital sectors

BACKGROUND

In a context of the evolution of severe morbidities in patients living with HIV (PLWH), the aim of this study was to describe reasons for hospitalization and the mode of care for the patients requiring hospitalization.

METHODS

All admissions (≥24h) of PLWH to 10 hospitals in the south of Paris (COREVIH Ile-de-France Sud) between 1/1/2011 and 12/31/2011 were identified. The hospital database and the file of patients followed in the HIV referral department of each hospital were matched. Detailed clinical and biological data were collected, by returning to the individual medical records, for a random sample (65% of hospitalized patients).

RESULTS

A total of 3013 hospitalizations (1489 patients) were recorded in 2011. The estimated rate of hospitalized patients was about 8% among the 10105 PLWH routinely managed in COREVIH Ile-de-France Sud in 2011. The majority (58.5%) of these hospitalizations occurred in a unit other than the HIV referral unit. Non-AIDS-defining infections were the main reason for admission (16.4%), followed by HIV-related diseases (15.6%), hepatic/gastrointestinal diseases (12.0%), and cardiovascular diseases (10.3%). The median length of stay was 5 days overall (IQR: 2-11), it was longer among patients admitted to a referral HIV care unit than to another ward. HIV infection had been diagnosed >10 years previously in 61.4% of these hospitalized patients. They often had associated comorbidities (coinfection HCV/HVB 40.5%, smoking 45.8%; hypertension 33.4%, dyslipidemia 28.8%, diabetes 14.8%). Subjects over 60 years old accounted for 15% of hospitalized patients, most of them were virologically controlled under HIV treatment, and cardiovascular diseases were their leading reason for admission.

CONCLUSION

Needs for hospitalization among PLWH remain important, with a wide variety in causes of admission, involving all hospital departments. It is essential to prevent comorbidities to reduce these hospitalizations, and to maintain a link between the management of PLWH, that becomes rightly, increasing ambulatory, and recourse to specialized inpatient services.

Psychiatric and substance use disorders in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients: does HCV clearance matter? [Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) HEPAVIH CO13 cohort]

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this nested study was to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a sample of HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients according to their HCV status.

METHODS

The nested cross-sectional study, untitled HEPAVIH-Psy survey, was performed in a subset of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients enrolled in the French Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) CO13 HEPAVIH cohort. Psychiatric disorders were screened for using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 5.0.0).

RESULTS

Among the 286 patients enrolled in the study, 68 (24%) had never received HCV treatment, 87 (30%) were treatment nonresponders, 44 (15%) were currently being treated and 87 (30%) had a sustained virological response (SVR). Of the 286 patients enrolled, 121 patients (42%) screened positive for a psychiatric disorder other than suicidality and alcohol/drug abuse/dependence, 40 (14%) screened positive for alcohol abuse/dependence, 50 (18%) screened positive for drug abuse/dependence, 50 (17.5%) were receiving an antidepressant treatment and 69 (24%) were receiving an anxiolytic. Patients with an SVR did not significantly differ from the other groups in terms of psychiatric disorders. Patients receiving HCV treatment screened positive less often for an anxiety disorder. The highest rate of drug dependence/abuse was among HCV treatment-naïve patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric disorders were frequent in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and their rates were comparable between groups, even for patients achieving an SVR. Our results emphasize the need for continuous assessment and care of coinfected patients, even after HCV clearance. Drug addiction remains an obstacle to access to HCV treatment. Despite the recent advent and continued development of directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs), it is still crucial to offer screening and comprehensive care for psychiatric and addictive disorders.

Direct-acting antiviral treatment against hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-Infected patients - "En route for eradication"?

OBJECTIVES

Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) opened a new era in HCV treatment. We report the impact of HCV treatment in French HIV-HCV coinfected patients.

METHODS

All HIV-HCV patients from the Dat'AIDS cohort followed between 2012 and 2015 were included. HCV status was defined yearly as naive, spontaneous cure, sustained virological response (SVR12), failure or reinfection.

RESULTS

Among 32,945 HIV-infected patients, 15.2% were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. From 2012 to 2015, HCV incidence rate increased from 0.35%PY to 0.69%PY in MSM, while median incidence was 0.08%PY in other patients. Median reinfection rate was 2.56%PY in MSM and 0.22%PY in other patients. HCV treatment initiation rate rose from 8.2% in 2012 to 29.6% (48.0% in pre-treated patients vs 22.6% in naïve patients). SVR12 rate increased from 68.7% to 95.2%. By the end of 2015, 62.7% of the patients were cured either spontaneously or following SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV treatment dramatically increased in HIV-HCV patients in France from 2012 to 2015 resulting in HCV cure in nearly two-thirds of the patients in this cohort. Combined with a declining HCV prevalence, the prevalence of active HCV infection among HIV patients will drastically decrease in the forthcoming years.

Frequency dependence of capnography in anesthetized rabbits

Aspirative capnography may be of help to diagnose early childhood asthma, but clinical usefulness in young children is limited by the relatively high respiratory rate. This study aimed to characterize the [Formula: see text] time course during airway constriction in 8 anesthetized rabbits, artificially ventilated at 30, 60 and 80breaths/min. Methacholine was inhaled to double the respiratory resistance measured at 8Hz by the forced oscillation technique. The capnogram shape changed in response to both methacholine and ventilatory frequency. Slope of phase II, the peak of first-order time derivative and trough of the second-order time derivative of the [Formula: see text] signal, were significantly attenuated after methacholine compared with baseline at all breathing rates (p<0.02). Moreover, significant correlations between respiratory reactance and resistance were observed with the phase III slope and the angle described by phase II and phase III (p<0.01). It is concluded that capnography may be useful to identify acute airway changes related to bronchoconstriction, even at high breathing frequencies.

High frequency of vitamin D deficiency in HIV-infected patients: effects of HIV-related factors and antiretroviral drugs

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) status in an HIV-infected adult population and to define HIV- and antiretroviral-related factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.

METHODS

Using data from a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adult patients followed in five French centres (Dat'AIDS cohort), we evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (<30 ng/mL). A multiple linear regression model was used to examine risk factors for vitamin D deficiency (≤10 ng/mL).

RESULTS

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was observed in 86.7% of the 2994 patients, including 55.6% with vitamin D insufficiency and 31.1% with vitamin D deficiency. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were current smoking [adjusted OR (aOR) 1.55], estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (aOR 1.51), vitamin D measurement not performed in summer (aOR 0.27), CD4 <350 cells/mm(3) (aOR 1.37 for CD4 200 to <350 and 1.62 for CD4 <200 cells/mm(3)) and antiretroviral therapy (aOR 2.61). Gender, body mass index, age, coinfection and previous AIDS were not associated factors. In the antiretroviral-treated population (n = 2660), besides the same factors found in the whole population, efavirenz was the only drug to be significantly associated with deficiency, with an aOR of 1.89 (95% CI 1.45-2.47).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in this HIV-infected population. Patients on antiretroviral therapy are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than antiretroviral-naive patients, with an increased risk in patients receiving efavirenz. No effect of the other antiretrovirals, including the latest (etravirine, darunavir, raltegravir), was found.

Kidney transplantation in HIV-positive patients: report of our first 7 cases

INTRODUCTION

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although many teams initially were reluctant to offer kidney transplantation as a therapeutic option in HIV-positive patients with ESRD, new drug regimens introduced in the late 1990s have dramatically improved the life expectancy in these patients.

OBJECTIVE

To report the results of the first 7 kidney transplantation procedures in HIV-positive patients at our institution.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were selected to minimize the risks of HIV disease progression, opportunistic infections, and tumors. Protease-inhibitor therapies were suspended because of possible interaction with immunosuppression drugs. The induction regimen did not include lymphocyte-depleting drugs. After undergoing transplantation, patients were monitored by the transplantation and infectious disease teams.

RESULTS

To date, all patients are alive with functioning grafts. We did not observe any episodes of acute rejection, and there were few adverse events. Drug tolerance was good for both immunosuppression and antiretroviral therapies.

CONCLUSION

Kidney transplantation in HIV-positive patients with ESRD is warranted. Provided that patients are carefully selected, good results can be achieved with few adverse events, episodes of acute rejection, and drug interactions. Posttransplantation, these patients must be closely monitored by both the transplantation and infectious diseases teams to ensure optimal management.

Safety and efficacy of raltegravir in HIV-infected transplant patients cotreated with immunosuppressive drugs

Solid organ transplantations (SOT) are performed successfully in selected HIV-infected patients. However, multiple and reciprocal drug-drug interactions are observed between antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) through CYP450 metabolization. Raltegravir (RAL), a novel HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, is not a substrate of CYP450 enzymes. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 13 HIV-infected transplant patients treated by an RAL + two nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimen, in terms of tolerability, ARV efficacy (plasma viral load, CD4 cell count), drug interactions, RAL pharmacokinetics and transplant outcome. Thirteen patients with liver (n = 8) or kidney (n = 5) transplantation were included. RAL was initiated (400 mg BID) either at time of transplantation (n = 6), or after transplantation (n = 7). Median RAL trough concentration was 507 ng/mL (176-890), which is above the in vitro IC95 for wild type HIV-1 strains (15 ng/mL). Target trough levels of CNIs were promptly obtained with standard dosages of tacrolimus or cyclosporine. RAL tolerability was excellent. There was no episode of acute rejection. HIV infection remained controlled. After a median follow-up of 9 months (range: 6-14), all patients were alive with satisfactory graft function. The use of an RAL + two NRTI-based regimen is a good alternative in HIV-infected patients undergoing SOT.

Atazanavir in patients with persistent viral replication despite HAART: results from the French prospective NADIS cohort

OBJECTIVE

To assess virological efficacy of a ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r)-containing regimen in patients with persistent viral replication despite HAART.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Prospective cohort of French HIV-infected patients. Patients were included if pretreated and viral load (VL) >400 copies/mL at the time of ATV/r first prescription (baseline). Demographic and epidemiologic data, therapeutic history, and clinical and biological values at baseline and during follow-up were analyzed. Primary endpoint was failure of the regimen defined as either VL>400 copies/mL at Week 24 or treatment interruption before Week 24. Multivariate analysis was performed of baseline characteristics related with treatment failure.

RESULTS

There were 424 patients with available data. Primary endpoint was met by 36%: 24% VL>400 copies/mL and 12% treatment interruption. Treatment interruption due to drug-related toxicity was significantly more frequent in women (20.5% vs. 8.8%, p= .001). Female gender (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.91), previous use of lopinavir (LPV; OR=2.76), number of new drugs and of active drugs in the regimen (OR=0.48 and 0.3, respectively), and baseline VL (OR=1.75) were independently related with treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

ATV/r-containing regimens, because of low pill burden and good tolerance, can be a useful strategy as long as the patients did not suffer previous LPV failures. The issue of gender deserves further studies in larger populations.

Characteristics trends, mortality and morbidity in persons newly diagnosed HIV positive during the last decade: the profile of new HIV diagnosed people

We analysed mortality, morbidity and trends in the characteristics, including risk factors of late testing, in 6805 the patients newly diagnosed for HIV infection between 1 January 1996 and 1 July 2006. The proportion of individuals in high risk groups of infection, as MSM, has decreased over time whereas the proportion of those in low risk of infection, as heterosexual persons in couple with children, has increased. This population is mainly diagnosed late with major consequences on morbidity and mortality.

Intérêt d'un nouveau test combiné antigène–anticorps pour le dépistage de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite C : réduction de la fenêtre sérologique au cours de l'hépatite C aiguë chez le sujet co-infecté par le VIH

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical benefit of a new combined antigen-antibody immunoenzymatic assay (Monolisa HCV Ag-Ab Ultra, Biorad) in the setting of acute HCV infection in HIV infected patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The performance of this assay was first evaluated in 160 HIV positive samples from uninfected and chronically HCV infected patients. To assess the performance of the Ag-Ab assay in the context of acute hepatitis C, 94 stored frozen serums from 20 recently diagnosed cases were retrospectively tested for HCV-RNA and presence of anti-HCV antibodies, in parallel with the new assay.

RESULTS

In HIV infected patients, the sensitivity and specificity of the Ultra assay was 100% with a strong discrimination between positive and negative samples. In HCV acutely infected patients, the Ag-Ab assay significantly reduced the seronegative period, allowing an earlier diagnosis compared to a 3rd generation ELISA in 65% of the cases. The combined assay became positive on the same bleed as the first HCV-RNA detection for 13 patients out of 20. Nevertheless, in one case, characterized by an absence of seroconversion over one year but a continuous viral replication above 1 million IU/ml, the combined assay did not improve HCV infection diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Use of this new assay as a first line screening would significantly reduce the long seronegative window period seen in HCV infection allowing earlier HCV diagnosis and rapid clinical management. However, in case of clinical acute hepatitis C, sensitive HCV-RNA detection should remain the gold standard.

Early detection of hepatitis C virus infection by use of a new combined antigen-antibody detection assay: potential use for high-risk individuals

The performance of a new combined antigen-antibody assay (Monolisa HCV Ag-Ab Ultra; Bio-Rad Laboratories) was evaluated in the context of acute hepatitis C in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The combined assay became positive as early as the first PCR and earlier than a third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 65% of the cases. Reduction of the long period of HCV seronegativity should improve the diagnosis of hepatitis C infection, especially in high-risk populations.

Prise en charge de l'infection à VIH en 2005 en France à travers 7416 patients de la cohorte NADIS

OBJECTIVE

This study had for aim to evaluate the immuno-virological and therapeutic profile of a cohort of 7416 HIV-1 infected patients followed in six French hospital with the Nadis software.

METHOD

This cross sectional and retrospective study was performed between June 1, 2004 and June 1, 2005. We analyzed the demographic (sex, age, HIV infection route), immunovirological, and therapeutic characteristics (last treatment prescribed) of the 7416 cohort patients.

RESULTS

The mean age was 43 years, 29% were women and 29% HCV/HBV co infected. The viral load was 1.9 log(10)copies/ml (IQR: 1.5-3.3) and the CD4 cells count was 452/mm(3) [IQR: 306-630]. Among the 5,913 antiretroviral treated patients, VL was less than 200 copies/ml for 74.7% of patients and 50% of them had a CD4 cell count superior to 500/mm(3); the drug regimen was 2 or 3 nucleosides reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) combined with one protease inhibitor (88% Ritonavir boosted) in 42% of the patients, 26% of them were treated with 2 NRTI and 1 non-NRTI, and 14% with 3NRTI. Patients with undetectable VL were followed 5.1/year versus 7.2 for non- VL controlled patients (P<10(-3)). The heterosexual route predominated among the new 531 HIV-diagnosed patients among whom 25% had a median CD4 cell count of 242/ m(3).

CONCLUSION

Close to 75% of antiretroviral treated patients had a VL<200 copies/ml but 15% kept a low CD4 cell count. The characteristics of recently diagnosed HIV positive patients stresses the need for more information on prevention and an early diagnosis.

[The Nadis cohort: 6236 HIV-infected patients followed up in French university hospitals]

OBJECTIVE

The Nadis electronic medical patient record allows real time constitution of a database including the clinical, therapeutic, biological, and epidemiological features of HIV-positive patients.

METHODS

Data concerning HIV-infected patients followed-up in 6 French University Hospitals was collected. Data quality was assessed on a regular basis in each center.

RESULTS

The 6 first University hospitals using Nadis agreed to group their data on March 15, 2004, concerning 6236 patients having consulted at least once in the previous year. Among these, 29% were female patients, 80% were under treatment on March 15, 2004, 9% were off treatment, 29% were co-infected by hepatitis B or C virus, 57% had an undetectable viral load, 15% of the treated patients were in a worrying immunovirological situation, 358 were diagnosed HIV-positive in 2003. 35% of these "new patients" were women, the mode of infection was sexual in 80%, 45% were under treatment on March 15, 04. This recent data allowed us to have an accurate assessment of this population's management in 2004.

Impact of Newly Available Drugs on Clinical Progression in Patients with Virological Failure after Exposure to Three Classes of Antiretrovirals

Objective

To study the prognosis of HIV-infected patients with virological failure after exposure to three classes of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

Design

Cohort study. Setting: French Hospital Database on HIV.

Patients

Patients previously exposed to at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), two protease inhibitors and one non-NRTI, with viral load (VL) values of >5000 copies/ml after the exposure criteria were met and a new treatment initiated between 1998 and 2001 with VL >5000 copies/ml.

Main outcome measures

Risk of new AIDS-defining-events (ADEs) or death from first introduction of a drug never used before occurring between 1998 and 2001 defined as baseline.

Results

The main baseline characteristics of the 1092 patients were: previous ADE in 49% of cases, median CD4 cell count 181 μl, median VL 4.9 log10 copies/ml, median duration of ARV therapy 5.0 years and previous exposure to a median of nine ARVs. The crude progression rates were 20.1/100 patient-years among patients included in 1998, 15.1 in 1999, 11.1 in 2000 and 8.6 in 2001. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the calendar year of inclusion was associated with the risk of clinical progression ( P<0.001). When the types of newly available drugs used at baseline or during follow-up were introduced into the model, year of inclusion was no longer associated with the risk of clinical progression ( P=0.42), while exposure to amprenavir/r, lopinavir/r, abacavir or tenofovir was associated with a lower risk.

Conclusions

The clinical prognosis of heavily pretreated patients experiencing virological failure improved between 1998 and 2001, mainly thanks to the use of newly available drugs with more favourable resistance profiles.