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  • Safety and effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy during the first year of treatment in HIV-1 infected Rwandan children: a prospective study.

Safety and effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy during the first year of treatment in HIV-1 infected Rwandan children: a prospective study.

PloS one (2014-11-05)
Philippe R Mutwa, Kimberly R Boer, Brenda Asiimwe-Kateera, Diane Tuyishimire, Narcisse Muganga, Joep M A Lange, Janneke van de Wijgert, Anita Asiimwe, Peter Reiss, Sibyl P M Geelen
ABSTRACT

With increased availability of paediatric combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in resource limited settings, cART outcomes and factors associated with outcomes should be assessed. HIV-infected children <15 years of age, initiating cART in Kigali, Rwanda, were followed for 18 months. Prospective clinical and laboratory assessments included weight-for-age (WAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores, complete blood cell count, liver transaminases, creatinine and lipid profiles, CD4 T-cell count/percent, and plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration. Clinical success was defined as WAZ and WAZ >-2, immunological success as CD4 cells ≥500/mm3 and ≥25% for respectively children over 5 years and under 5 years, and virological success as a plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration <40 copies/mL. Between March 2008 and December 2009, 123 HIV-infected children were included. The median (interquartile (IQR) age at cART initiation was 7.4 (3.2, 11.5) years; 40% were <5 years and 54% were female. Mean (95% confidence interval (95%CI)) HAZ and WAZ at baseline were -2.01 (-2.23, -1.80) and -1.73 (-1.95, -1.50) respectively and rose to -1.75 (-1.98, -1.51) and -1.17 (-1.38, -0.96) after 12 months of cART. The median (IQR) CD4 T-cell values for children <5 and ≥5 years of age were 20% (13, 28) and 337 (236, 484) cells/mm3 respectively, and increased to 36% (28, 41) and 620 (375, 880) cells/mm3. After 12 months of cART, 24% of children had a detectable viral load, including 16% with virological failure (HIV-RNA>1000 c/mL). Older age at cART initiation, poor adherence, and exposure to antiretrovirals around birth were associated with virological failure. A third (33%) of children had side effects (by self-report or clinical assessment), but only 9% experienced a severe side effect requiring a cART regimen change. cART in Rwandan HIV-infected children was successful but success might be improved further by initiating cART as early as possible, optimizing adherence and optimizing management of side effects.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Glycine ethyl ester hydrochloride, 99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Creatinine, anhydrous, ≥98%
Supelco
Creatinine, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material