Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Combination antiretroviral therapy including ritonavir in children infected with human immunodeficiency.
AIDS. 1999 Jan 14;13(1):81-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99223955 Thuret I; Michel G; Chambost H; Tamalet C; Giraud P; Brunet C; Perrimond H; Service d'Hematologie Pediatrique, CHU Timone, Marseille,; France.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of combination therapy that includes ritonavir in HIV-1 infected children. DESIGN: A monocentric retrospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two children with a minimum follow-up of 6 months under triple therapy including ritonavir were analysed for treatment efficacy. At entry, all the patients were protease inhibitor naive and all but two had received previous antiretroviral therapy during a median period of 5 years. Their initial median CD4+ lymphocyte count and viral load were 121 x 10(6)/l and 5.08 log10 copies/ml, respectively. Clinical and biological evaluation included clinical assessment every 6 weeks and determination of CD4 cell count and HIV-RNA concentration every 3 months. RESULTS: Median length of follow-up on triple therapy was 15 months (range: 7-21 months). Neither progression in the CDC classification nor death occurred. No significant change in mean weight SD scores was noted when baseline values were compared with values obtained after 1 year of triple therapy. Median CD4 count increases were of 210 x 10(6)/l, 415 x 10(6)/l, and 472 x 10(6)/l cells at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Among the patients baseline characteristics, neither age nor initial CD4 cells count influenced the magnitude of immunologic improvement. There were median decreases of 1.14, 0.95, and 1.5 log10 per ml of plasma in the concentration of viral RNA at 6, 12, and 18 months respectively. Seven patients maintained an undetectable viral load when under treatment. The introduction of at least one new reverse transcriptase inhibitor at the initiation of triple therapy correlated significantly with a greater viral suppression. CONCLUSION: Despite variable viral response, antiretroviral-experienced HIV-infected children demonstrated a substantial CD4 cell increase during a median period of 15 months of ritonavir containing combination therapy.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Adolescence Anti-HIV Agents/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE Child Child, Preschool Drug Therapy, Combination Female Follow-Up Studies Human HIV Infections/*DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY/VIROLOGY HIV Protease Inhibitors/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE Lamivudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE Male Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE Ritonavir/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE Stavudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE Zidovudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE 990930
A9991338
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
