Effectiveness and tolerability of abacavir‐lamivudine‐nevirapine (ABC/3TC/NVP) in a multicentre cohort of HIV‐infected, ARV‐naïve patients
In: Journal of the International AIDS Society, Band 17, Heft 4S3
ISSN: 1758-2652
PurposeVery scarce information has been published to date with the combination of ABC/3TC/NVP but it is currently being used in clinical practice in Spain and Portugal. Our aim was to present the clinical experience with this regimen in a cohort of adult HIV‐infected antiretroviral (ARV)‐naïve patients.MethodsRetrospective, multicentre, cohort study. Consecutive adult HIV‐infected ARV‐naïve HLA‐B*5701‐negative patients, who started ABC/3TC/NVP between 2005‐2013, with at least one follow‐up visit, were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were assessed at baseline, month 1, and every three–four months thereafter. The primary end point was HIV‐1 viral load (VL)<40 c/mL at 48 weeks. Data were analyzed by intent‐to‐treat (ITT) (switch=failure, and missing=failure) and on treatment (OT) analyses.Results78 patients were included. Median follow up was 26 (0.1‐84) months. 86% were male, median age 41 (23‐69) years, 9% had AIDS, 8% were HCV+, baseline CD4 was 275 (10‐724) cells/µL and median VL 4.58 (3.02‐6.92) log. After 48 weeks, VL was<40 c/mL in 89.8% (OT), 79.7% (M=F) and 65.4% (S=F) and at 96 weeks in 88.5%, 78.9% and 61.6%, respectively. CD4 increased +246 (p<0.001) and +292 (p<0.001) cells/uL after 48 and 96 weeks, respectively. One or more drugs of the regimen were discontinued in 33 (42.3%) patients. In 15 (19.2%) patients (13 NVP, 2 ABC/3TC) therapy was stopped due to toxicity after a median of one month (in only two cases after six months of follow up): 80% of them had rash/liver toxicity. Six (7.7%) patients discontinued ART due to virologic failure, five (6.4%) because of other reasons and seven (9%) were lost to follow‐up. ALT but not AST significantly increased (+0.07 ukat/L at 96 weeks, p=0.033). A significant increase of 25%, 26% and 42% in total cholesterol, LDLc and HDLc, respectively, and a significant decrease in TC/HDL ratio (6%, p=0.008) was observed after 96 weeks.ConclusionsDespite a considerable proportion of patients had to stop therapy due to toxicity (most associated with NVP), those initially tolerating this regimen presented a high virologic and immunologic response after 96 weeks, as well as a favourable lipid profile. ABC/3TC/NVP may be a suitable alternative first regimen, mainly in countries with economic constraints.