High frequency of highly active antiretroviral therapy modifications in patients with acute or early human immunodeficiency virus infection

Beulah P. Sabundayo, Julie H. McArthur, Susan J. Langan, Joel E. Gallant, Joseph B. Margolick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Study Objectives. To examine the frequency of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) modifications, the reasons for these modifications, and toxicities of these drugs in patients receiving their first HAART regimen after a diagnosis of acute (< 2 mo from infection) or early (2-12 mo) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Patients. Fifty-one patients who were enrolled in the Acute Infection and Early Disease Research Program at a Baltimore, Maryland, site between January 1, 1998, and April 30, 2002, and who chose to start HAART. Measurements and Main Results. Time from initiation of therapy to first modification-defined as change in any HAART drug without an interruption in therapy or as simultaneous discontinuation of all drugs within the regimen-and time from initiation of therapy to reinitiation of therapy were recorded, as well as reasons for modification and reinitiation. With a median follow-up of 1549 days, 21 (41%) of 51 patients received HAART continuously, but only 10 (20%) continued to receive their original regimen without any modification. Among the 41 patients (80%) who received modified therapy, the main reasons for the first modification were toxicity (16 patients), nonadherence (8), and new data on treatment efficacy or safety (8). Of 30 patients who stopped HAART, 18 restarted HAART at a later time. Conclusion. The high frequency of treatment modification among patients treated after acute or early HIV infection underscores the importance of determining the usefulness of antiretroviral therapy early in HIV infection, and the need for more tolerable regimens if HAART is to be started at this stage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)674-681
Number of pages8
JournalPharmacotherapy
Volume26
Issue number5 I
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Keywords

  • Acute infection
  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • Early infection
  • HAART
  • HAART toxicity
  • HIV
  • Highly active antiretroviral therapy
  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Treatment modification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology (medical)

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