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Pharmaceutical industry

Long-Term Effects of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy on HIV Patients

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A team of researchers, Christina M. Ramirez and Michael S. Gottlieb from the California Institute of Technology, conducted a study on the long-term effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on HIV patients who had previously received anti-retroviral treatment. The study involved 304 patients who were placed on HAART for 18 months, and the researchers analyzed the patients' CD4 counts and HIV RNA levels at baseline and after 18 months of treatment. The results showed that after 18 months, a significant proportion of patients still had an AIDS-defining illness, and the average CD4 count and HIV RNA levels did not significantly improve.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study examined 304 anti-retroviral-experienced patients who were placed on HAART for 18 months, with a baseline CD4 count of 385x10(6)/1 and HIV RNA level of 3.2 log[10] copies/ml.
  • After 18 months, 14 percent of the population remained asymptomatic, 10 percent of which had an undetectable viral load, while 39 percent were symptomatic and 47 percent had an AIDS-defining illness.
  • The average CD4 count after 18 months on HAART was 301.79x10(6)/1, and the average HIV RNA level was 3.2 log[10] copies/ml.
  • The CD4 distributions were significantly different (p=0.01 Komologrov-Smirnov) after 18 months, indicating a decline in CD4 count.
  • Further analysis will be done on the viral genotype of patients who progressed, as well as predictors of response to long-term HAART.
  • The study was supported by NIH-AI-0985.

Statistics:

  • 304 patients were examined in the study over a period of 18 months.
  • 39 percent of patients at baseline were classified as asymptomatic, 33 percent as symptomatic, and 28 percent with an AIDS-defining illness.
  • 14 percent of the population remained asymptomatic after 18 months, 10 percent of which had an undetectable viral load.
  • 39 percent were symptomatic, and 47 percent had an AIDS-defining illness after 18 months.
  • The average CD4 count after 18 months was 301.79x10(6)/1 (a decline of 84x10(6)/1 from baseline).
  • The average HIV RNA level after 18 months was 3.2 log[10] copies/ml.

Sources:

  • "Long-Term Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy in an Anti-Retroviral Experienced Population." Christina M. Ramirez and Michael S. Gottlieb. California Institute of Technology. (CW Henderson Publisher www.newsfile.com)
  • Keystone Symposia HIV Vaccine Development: Opportunities and Challenges and AIDS Pathogenesis, held January 7-13, 1999, in Keystone, Colorado

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