Monocyte Activation and Ageing Biomarkers in the Development of Cardiovascular Ischaemic Events or Diabetes in People with HIV.

We investigated whether blood telomere length (TL), epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), and soluble inflammatory monocyte cytokines are associated with cardiovascular events or diabetes (DM) in people living with HIV (PLHIV). This was a case-control study nested in the Spanish HIV/AIDS Cohort (CoRIS). Cases with myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden death, or diabetes after starting antiretroviral therapy were included with the available samples and controls matched for sex, age, tobacco use, pre-ART CD4 cell count, viral load, and sample time-point. TL (T/S ratio) was analysed by quantitative PCR and EAA with DNA methylation changes by next-generation sequencing using the Weidner formula. Conditional logistic regression was used to explore the association with cardiometabolic events. In total, 180 participants (94 cases (22 myocardial infarction/sudden death, 12 strokes, and 60 DM) and 94 controls) were included. Of these, 84% were male, median (IQR) age 46 years (40-56), 53% were current smokers, and 22% had CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 and a median (IQR) log viral load of 4.52 (3.77-5.09). TL and EAA were similar in the cases and controls. There were no significant associations between TL, EAA, and monocyte cytokines with cardiometabolic events. TL and EAA were mildly negatively correlated with sCD14 (rho = -0.23; p = 0.01) and CCL2/MCP-1 (rho = -0.17; p = 0.02). We found no associations between TL, EAA, and monocyte cytokines with cardiovascular events or diabetes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical value of epigenetic biomarkers and TL in PLHIV.

Effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir/lamivudine for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir (DTG)/lamivudine (3TC) among treatment-naive and virologically suppressed treatment-experienced individuals in the multicentre cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) during the years 2018-2021. METHODS: We used multivariable regression models to compare viral suppression (VS) [HIV RNA viral load (VL) <50 copies/mL] and the change in CD4 cell counts at 24 and 48 (±12) weeks after initiation with dolutegravir/lamivudine or other first-line ART regimens. RESULTS: We included 2160 treatment-naive subjects, among whom 401 (18.6%) started with dolutegravir/lamivudine. The remaining subjects started bictegravir (BIC)/emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) (n = 949, 43.9%), DTG + FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) (n = 282, 13.1%), DTG/3TC/abacavir (ABC) (n = 255, 11.8%), darunavir (DRV)/cobicistat(COBI)/FTC/TAF (n = 147, 6.8%) and elvitegravir (EVG)/COBI/FTC/TAF (n = 126, 5.8%). At 24 and 48 weeks after starting dolutegravir/lamivudine, 91.4% and 93.8% of the subjects, respectively, achieved VS. The probability of achieving VS with dolutegravir/lamivudine was not significantly different compared with any other regimen at 24 or 48 weeks, with the exception of a lower chance of achieving VS at 24 weeks for DRV/COBI/FTC/TAF (adjusted OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.30-0.74) compared with dolutegravir/lamivudine.For the analysis of treatment-experienced virally suppressed subjects we included 1456 individuals who switched to dolutegravir/lamivudine, among whom 97.4% and 95.5% maintained VS at 24 and 48 weeks, respectively. During the first 48 weeks after dolutegravir/lamivudine initiation, 1.0% of treatment-naive and 1.5% of treatment-experienced subjects discontinued dolutegravir/lamivudine due to an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicentre cohort, effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir/lamivudine were high among treatment-naive and treatment-experienced subjects.

Unplanned pregnancies and social and partner support during pregnancy in Spanish women living with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: To describe prevalence and factors associated with unplanned pregnancies, and social and partner support during pregnancy among women from the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). METHODS: We included all women recruited in CoRIS from 2004 to 2019, aged 18-50 years at recruitment who were pregnant during 2020. We designed a questionnaire, organized into the following domains: sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco and alcohol consumption, pregnancy and reproductive health, and social and partner support. The information was gathered via telephone interviews conducted from June to December 2021. We calculated prevalence of unplanned pregnancies as well as odds ratios (ORs) of association and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to sociodemographic, clinical and reproductive characteristics. RESULTS: Among 53 women who were pregnant during 2020, 38 (71.7%) answered the questionnaire. Median age at pregnancy was 36 years [interquartile range (IQR) 31-39], 27 (71.1%) women were born outside of Spain, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (39.5%) and 17 (44.7%) were employed. Thirty-four (89.5%) women had been through previous pregnancies and 32 (84.2%) had experienced previous abortions/miscarriages. Seventeen (44.7%) women had shared with their clinician their desire to get pregnant. Thirty-four (89.5%) pregnancies were natural and four used assisted reproductive techniques (in vitro fertilizations; one additionally used oocyte donation). Of 34 women with natural pregnancies, pregnancy was unplanned in 21 (61.8%) and 25 (73.5%) had information on how to become pregnant avoiding HIV transmission to the baby and partner. Women who did not seek advice from their physician about becoming pregnant had a significantly increased risk of unplanned pregnancy (OR = 71.25, 95% CI: 8.96-566.67). Overall, 14 (36.8%) women reported having low social support during pregnancy and 27 (71.0%) had good/very good support by their partner. CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnancies were natural and unplanned and very few women had talked with their clinician about their desire to become pregnant. A high proportion of women reported low social support during pregnancy.

Progress in the quality of care for newly diagnosed people with HIV in Spain (2004-2019).

BACKGROUND: We monitored the quality of care for newly diagnosed people with HIV (PWH) in Spain, including linkage to care within 1 month of HIV diagnosis (LC-1Mo) and viral suppression within 3 months of HIV diagnosis (VS-3Mo). METHODS: Longitudinal study based on The Cohort of the Spanish AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). We used logistic regression stratified by year of HIV diagnosis (2004-2013 and 2014-2019) to assess differences by sex, country of origin, HIV risk group, age, prior AIDS, HIV Viral Load, and CD4 cell count. RESULTS: The final analysis included 13,632 PWH: males 85%, men having sex with men (MSM) 61%, median age 35 years. LC-1Mo increased from 42% (95% CI, 38%-46%) in 2004 to 80% (95% CI, 77%-83%) in 2019 (P < 0.001). Median CD4+ cell counts at ART initiation increased from <250/mm3 in 2004-2005 to >350/mm3 since 2012 (P < 0.001). The percentage of initial regimens based on integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) increased from 3% in 2004 to >70% from 2016 onwards (P < 0.001). VS-3Mo increased from 6% (95% CI, 4%-8%) in 2004 to 45% (95% CI, 41%-49%) in 2019 (P < 0.001). Worst results for LC-1Mo were found among PWH acquiring HIV by injection drug use and those born in Latin American Countries across all the study period. CONCLUSION: Care indicators have improved among newly diagnosed PWH in Spain over the last 15 years. Removal of CD4 cell counts limitations, and probably the increasing use of INSTI-based regimens was decisive for the progress made.

Use of Generic Antiretroviral Drugs and Single-Tablet Regimen De-Simplification for the Treatment of HIV Infection in Spain.

The present study sought to describe the use of generic drugs and single-tablet regimen (STR) de-simplification for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among 41 hospitals from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). In June 2018, we collected information on when generic antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) were introduced in the different hospitals, how the decisions to use them were made, and how the information was provided to the patients. Most of the nine available generic ARVs in Spain by June 2018 had been introduced in at least 85% of the participating hospitals, except for zidovudine (AZT)/lamivudine (3TC) and AZT. The time difference between the effective marketing date of each generic ARV and its first dispensing date in the hospitals was much shorter for the more recently approved generic ARV since the year 2017. However, only up to 20% of the hospitals de-simplified efavirenz (EFV)/tenofovir disoproxil (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC), dolutegravir (DTG)/abacavir (ABC)/3TC, and rilpivirine (RPV)/TDF/FTC (to generic EFV+TDF/FTC, DTG+generic ABC/3TC, and RPV+generic TDF/FTC, respectively), whereas the generic STR EFV/TDF/FTC was introduced in 87.8% of the centers. The median times between the date of effective marketing of generic TDF/FTC and the date of de-simplification of EFV/TDF/FTC and RPV/TDF/FTC were 723 [interquartile range (IQR): 369-1,119] and 234 (IQR: 142-264) days, respectively; this time was 155 (IQR: 28-287) days for de-simplification of DTG/ABC/3TC. In conclusion, despite the widespread use of generic ARVs, STRs de-simplification was only undertaken in <20% of the hospitals. There was wide variability in the timing of the introduction of each generic ARV after they were available in the market.

Brief Report: Patients' Experiences and Opinions After Desimplification of Their Single-Tablet Regimens for the Treatment of HIV Infection: A Survey in a Multicentre Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe patients' experiences after single-tablet regimen (STR) desimplification and its impact on self-reported treatment adherence and quality of life. METHODS: We performed a survey among all patients from the multicenter cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Network who had desimplified the STRs dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine (DGT/ABC/3TC) or rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine to their separate components (DTG + generic ABC/3TC or RPV + generic TDF/FTC) between December 2016 and November 2018. RESULTS: Among 216 patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria, 138 (63.9%) completed the questionnaire. Most of the patients (78.3%) knew what generic drugs are, only 8.7% believed that treatment with 2 pills is less effective than treatment with an STR, and 67.4% agreed that it is reasonable to take 2 pills instead of 1 for HIV treatment to decrease costs for the health care system. After desimplification, 13.0% of the patients stated they had more secondary effects, 8.0% had forgotten one or more doses more frequently than before, and 10.9% had sometimes forgotten to take 1 pill, but not the other. A proportion of 30.4% reported not being happy to take more pills a day, and 10.1% experienced a worse quality of life after the treatment desimplification. CONCLUSIONS: After STR desimplification, most of the patients had a fair knowledge about generic antiretrovirals, and they agreed to desimplify their STR to decrease costs. Although almost a third of the respondents were not happy to take 2 pills a day, only a minority reported worse adherence or quality of life.

Effects of tenofovir on telomeres, telomerase and T cell maturational subset distribution in long-term aviraemic HIV-infected adults.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the negative impact of tenofovir on telomere length (TL) is due to immune reconstitution interference or inhibition of telomerase. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight long-term aviraemic HIV adults treated with tenofovir-containing (n = 79) or tenofovir-sparing regimens (n = 49) were recruited to compare the following: TL in whole blood, PBMCs, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells by quantitative PCR (qPCR); telomerase activity in PBMCs, CD4+ cells and CD8+ T cells using the TRAPeze RT Telomerase Detection Kit; and T cell maturational subset distribution by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In an adjusted analysis, participants treated with tenofovir for at least 4 years had shorter TL in CD8+ T cells (P = 0.04) and lower telomerase activity in CD4+ (P = 0.012) and CD8+ T cells (P = 0.023). Tenofovir treatment was also associated with lower proportions of recent thymic emigrant (RTE) CD4+ cells (P = 0.031) and PD1 marker expression (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: In long-term aviraemic HIV adults, the inhibition of telomerase by tenofovir could explain telomere shortening in CD8+ T cells. There is no telomere shortening in the CD4+ compartment and the decrease in telomerase activity could be explained both by the inhibition by tenofovir and by the lower proportion of RTE CD4+cells.

Detection of archived lamivudine-associated resistance mutations in virologically suppressed, lamivudine-experienced HIV-infected adults by different genotyping techniques (GEN-PRO study).

BACKGROUND: Previously selected lamivudine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) may remain archived within the proviral HIV-DNA. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of proviral DNA genotyping to detect lamivudine RAMs in HIV-1 virologically suppressed participants; the correlation between Sanger and next generation sequencing (NGS); and predictive factors for detection of lamivudine RAMs in proviral DNA. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of participants on stable antiretroviral therapy and suppressed for ≥1 year. Analysis of proviral DNA was performed by Sanger sequencing in whole blood and by NGS in PBMCs. RESULTS: We analysed samples from 102 subjects (52 with and 50 without lamivudine RAMs in historical plasma RNA-genotypes). Among participants with previous lamivudine resistance, Sanger sequencing detected RAMs in 26.9%. Detection rates significantly increased using NGS: 47.9%, 64.6%, 75% and 87.5% with the 20%, 10%, 5% and 1% thresholds, respectively. As for participants without historical lamivudine resistance, Sanger detected the RAMs in 1/49 (2%), and NGS (5% threshold) in 8/45 (17.8%). Multivariate models fitted to the whole population revealed that having a history of lamivudine resistance was a risk factor for detection of lamivudine RAMs by NGS. Among participants with historical lamivudine resistance, multivariate analysis showed that a longer time since HIV diagnosis was associated with persistence of archived mutations by NGS at thresholds of >10% [OR 1.10 (95% CI: 1.00-1.24)] and >5% [OR 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02-1.32)]. CONCLUSIONS: Proviral DNA Sanger sequencing does not detect the majority of historical lamivudine RAMs. NGS increases the sensitivity of detection at lower thresholds, although the relevance of these minority populations with lamivudine RAMs needs further evaluation.

Effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir and abacavir/lamivudine administered as two separate pills compared to their equivalent single-tablet regimen in a multicentre cohort in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir (DTG), abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine (3TC) administered as branded STR (DTG/ABC/3TC) or as two separate pills (DTG and either branded ABC/3TC [DTG+(ABC/3TC)b] or generic ABC/3TC [DTG+(ABC/3TC)g]). METHODS: We included individuals from the multicentre cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) who received DTG/ABC/3TC, DTG+(ABC/3TC)b or DTG+(ABC/3TC)g during 2015 to 2018. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare the proportion of antiretroviral-naïve individuals who achieved viral suppression (VS) (viral load ≤50 copies/mL) at 24 weeks of initiating with DTG+(ABC/3TC)b or DTG+(ABC/3TC)g versus DTG/ABC/3TC. We also calculated the proportion of virologically suppressed individuals who maintained VS at 24 weeks after switching from DTG/ABC/3TC to DTG+(ABC/3TC)g. RESULTS: During the study period, 829, 68 and 47 treatment-naïve individuals started treatment with DTG/ABC/3TC, DTG+(ABC/3TC)b or DTG+(ABC/3TC)g respectively. The proportions of individuals who changed their regimens due to side effects during the first 24 weeks were 3.7%, 4.4% and 6.4% respectively (p = 0.646). We did not find significant differences in VS at 24 weeks among individuals starting with DTG+(ABC/3TC)b or DTG+(ABC/3TC)g compared to those initiating with DTG/ABC/3TC. Among 177 virologically suppressed individuals who switched from DTG/ABC/3TC to DTG+(ABC/3TC)g, 170 (96.0%) maintained VS at 24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: In naïve individuals, the effectiveness and tolerability at 24 weeks of DTG plus ABC/3TC administered as two separate pills, either as branded or generic ABC/3TC, was similar to the STR DTG/ABC/3TC. Switching the STR DTG/ABC/3TC to its separate components DTG+(ABC/3TC)g in virologically suppressed individuals did not seem to impair its effectiveness.

Direct and Indirect Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccination against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Long-Term Care Facilities, Spain.

We conducted a registries-based cohort study of long-term care facility residents >65 years of age offered vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 before March 10, 2021, in Spain. Risk for infection in vaccinated and nonvaccinated persons was compared with risk in the same persons in a period before the vaccination campaign, adjusted by daily-varying incidence and reproduction number. We selected 299,209 persons; 99.0% had >1 dose, 92.6% had 2 doses, and 99.8% of vaccines were Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2). For vaccinated persons with no previous infection, vaccine effectiveness was 81.8% (95% CI 81.0%-82.7%), and 11.6 (95% CI 11.3-11.9) cases were prevented per 10,000 vaccinated/day. In those with previous infection, effectiveness was 56.8% (95% CI 47.1%-67.7%). In nonvaccinated residents with no previous infection, risk decreased by up to 81.4% (95% CI 73.3%-90.3%). Our results confirm vaccine effectiveness in this population and suggest indirect protection in nonvaccinated persons.

How do women living with HIV experience menopause? Menopausal symptoms, anxiety and depression according to reproductive age in a multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: To estimate the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and anxiety/depression and to assess the differences according to menopausal status among women living with HIV aged 45-60 years from the cohort of Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). METHODS: Women were interviewed by phone between September 2017 and December 2018 to determine whether they had experienced menopausal symptoms and anxiety/depression. The Menopause Rating Scale was used to evaluate the prevalence and severity of symptoms related to menopause in three subscales: somatic, psychologic and urogenital; and the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire was used for anxiety/depression. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of association between menopausal status, and other potential risk factors, the presence and severity of somatic, psychological and urogenital symptoms and of anxiety/depression. RESULTS: Of 251 women included, 137 (54.6%) were post-, 70 (27.9%) peri- and 44 (17.5%) pre-menopausal, respectively. Median age of onset menopause was 48 years (IQR 45-50). The proportions of pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women who had experienced any menopausal symptoms were 45.5%, 60.0% and 66.4%, respectively. Both peri- and post-menopause were associated with a higher likelihood of having somatic symptoms (aOR 3.01; 95% CI 1.38-6.55 and 2.63; 1.44-4.81, respectively), while post-menopause increased the likelihood of having psychological (2.16; 1.13-4.14) and urogenital symptoms (2.54; 1.42-4.85). By other hand, post-menopausal women had a statistically significant five-fold increase in the likelihood of presenting severe urogenital symptoms than pre-menopausal women (4.90; 1.74-13.84). No significant differences by menopausal status were found for anxiety/depression. Joint/muscle problems, exhaustion and sleeping disorders were the most commonly reported symptoms among all women. Differences in the prevalences of vaginal dryness (p = 0.002), joint/muscle complaints (p = 0.032), and sweating/flush (p = 0.032) were found among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Women living with HIV experienced a wide variety of menopausal symptoms, some of them initiated before women had any menstrual irregularity. We found a higher likelihood of somatic symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal women, while a higher likelihood of psychological and urogenital symptoms was found in post-menopausal women. Most somatic symptoms were of low or moderate severity, probably due to the good clinical and immunological situation of these women.

Epigenetic age acceleration changes 2 years after antiretroviral therapy initiation in adults with HIV: a substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation-based estimators of biological age are reliable biomarkers of the ageing process. We aimed to investigate a range of epigenetic ageing biomarkers in a substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 clinical trial, which compared ritonavir-boosted darunavir with either raltegravir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive adults. METHODS: We analysed frozen whole blood samples from 168 ART-naive participants with HIV from the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial, before ART initiation and after 2 years of ART (84 participants on ritonavir-boosted darunavir with raltegravir and 84 participants on ritonavir-boosted darunavir with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine). We also included 44 participants without HIV with a similar age and sex distribution. We analysed DNA methylation. Epigenetic age estimators (Horvath's clock, Hannum's clock, GrimAge, and PhenoAge) and estimated leucocyte compositions were generated using Horvath's New Online Methylation Age Calculator and Houseman's method. We calculated epigenetic age acceleration measures for each estimator of epigenetic age. The NEAT001/ANRS143 trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01066962. FINDINGS: Compared with the HIV-uninfected group, ART-naive participants with HIV showed higher epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) according to all EAA estimators (mean 2·5 years, 95% CI 1·89-3·22 for Horvath-EAA; 1·4 years, 0·74-1·99 for Hannum-EAA; 2·8 years, 1·97-3·68 for GrimAge-EAA; and 7·3 years, 6·40-8·13 for PhenoAge-EAA), with all differences being statistically significant except for Hannum-EAA (Horvath-EAA p=0·0008; Hannum-EAA p=0·059; GrimAge-EAA p=0·0021; and PhenoAge-EAA p<0·0001). Epigenetic ageing was more pronounced in participants who had CD4 counts less than 200 cells per µL (significant for PhenoAge and Hannum's clock, p=0·0015 and p=0·034, respectively) or viral loads over 100 000 copies per mL at baseline (significant for PhenoAge, p=0·017). After 2 years of ART, epigenetic age acceleration was reduced, although PhenoAge and GrimAge remained significantly higher in participants with HIV compared with participants without HIV (mean difference 3·69 years, 95% CI 1·77-5·61; p=0·0002 and 2·2 years, 0·47-3·99; p=0·013, respectively). There were no significant differences in the ART effect on epigenetic ageing between treatment regimens. At baseline, participants with HIV showed dysregulation of DNA methylation-based estimated leucocyte subsets towards more differentiated T-cell phenotypes and proinflammatory leucocytes, which was also partly restored with ART. INTERPRETATION: ART initiation partly reversed epigenetic ageing associated with untreated HIV infection. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term dynamics and clinical relevance of epigenetic ageing biomarkers in people with HIV. FUNDING: NEAT-ID Foundation.

Dynamics of creatinine estimated glomerular filtration rate using one or more antiretrovirals that inhibit creatinine tubular secretion.

BACKGROUND: Cobicistat, dolutegravir and rilpivirine are all modest inhibitors of proximal tubular creatinine secretion (IPTCrS) and hence a moderate and early non-progressive creatinine estimated glomerular filtration rate (Cr-eGFR) reduction has been observed in clinical trials. Data regarding the impact of combination of those drugs on Cr-eGFR, in the clinical practice, are scarcely known. METHODS: Changes in Cr-eGFR after starting darunavir/cobicistat alone or in combination with dolutegravir and/or rilpivirine were studied in a nationwide retrospective cohort study of consecutive HIV-infected patients initiating darunavir/cobicistat. The relationship between Cr-eGFR changes over time and the use of darunavir/cobicistat alone or darunavir/cobicistat plus dolutegravir and/or rilpivirine adjusted by different HIV patient's characteristics, socio-demographics, HIV severity and use of tenofovir concomitant medication other than antiretrovirals was explored through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The analysis included 725 patients. At 48 weeks, the combination of two or more IPTCrS (darunavir/cobicistat with rilpivirine and/or dolutegravir) was associated with higher decreases in Cr-eGFR [adjusted median difference (±SD) -3.5 ± 1.6 (95% CI -6.6 to -0.3), P = 0.047], and a decrease up to or higher than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 was more frequent [adjusted OR 3.233 (95% CI 1.343-7.782), P = 0.009], with respect to darunavir/cobicistat alone. The Cr-eGFR changes between darunavir/cobicistat and darunavir/cobicistat with rilpivirine and/or dolutegravir showed more significant decreases in patients taking two or more IPTCrS at 12, 24 and 48 weeks. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03042390). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant use of darunavir/cobicistat plus IPTCrS dolutegravir, rilpivirine, or both produced an additive effect in the expected Cr-eGFR decrease.

Long-term efficacy of dolutegravir plus lamivudine for maintenance of HIV viral suppression in adults with and without historical resistance to lamivudine: Week 96 results of ART-PRO pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In the ART-PRO pilot trial there were no virological failures through 48 weeks of treatment with dolutegravir plus lamivudine in suppressed individuals with and without archived lamivudine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) detected through next-generation sequencing (NGS) but without evidence of lamivudine RAMs in baseline proviral DNA population sequencing. OBJECTIVES: To present 96 week results from ART-PRO. METHODS: Open-label, single-arm pilot trial. At baseline, all participants switched to dolutegravir plus lamivudine. Participants were excluded if proviral DNA population genotyping detected lamivudine RAMs. To detect resistance minority variants, proviral DNA NGS was retrospectively performed from baseline samples. For this analysis the efficacy endpoint was the proportion of participants with <50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL at week 96. Safety and tolerability outcomes were incidence of adverse events and treatment discontinuations. RESULTS: Forty-one participants were included, 21 with lamivudine RAMs in historical plasma RNA genotypes. Baseline proviral DNA NGS detected lamivudine RAMs (M184V/I and/or K65R/E/N) above a 5% threshold in 71.4% (15/21) and 15% (3/20) of participants with and without history of lamivudine resistance, respectively. At 96 weeks, 90.2% of participants achieved the efficacy endpoint. Between week 48 and 96 there was one discontinuation due to consent withdrawal and no discontinuations related to adverse events. Two participants had a transient viral rebound, both re-suppressed on dolutegravir plus lamivudine. Through week 96, there were no virological failures. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot trial, dolutegravir plus lamivudine maintained virological suppression at 96 weeks despite historical lamivudine resistance and persisting archived minority lamivudine RAMs.

Effectiveness and safety of first-line antiretroviral regimens in clinical practice: a multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We compared 48 week effectiveness and safety of first-line antiretroviral regimens. METHODS: We analysed HIV treatment-naive adults from the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) starting the most commonly used antiretroviral regimens from 2014 to 2018. We used multivariable regression models to assess the impact of initial regimen on: (i) viral suppression (VS) (viral load <50 copies/mL); (ii) change in CD4 cell count; (iii) CD4/CD8 normalization (>0.4 and >1); (iv) CD4 percentage normalization (>29%); (v) multiple T-cell marker recovery (MTMR: CD4 > 500 cells/mm3 plus CD4 percentage >29% plus CD4/CD8 > 1); (vi) lipid, creatinine and transaminase changes; and (vii) discontinuations due to adverse events (AE). RESULTS: Among 3945 individuals analysed, the most frequently prescribed regimens were ABC/3TC/DTG (34.0%), TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT (17.2%), TDF/FTC + DTG (11.9%), TDF/FTC/EVG/CBT (11.7%), TDF/FTC/RPV (11.5%), TDF/FTC + bDRV (8.3%) and TDF/FTC + RAL (5.3%). At 48 weeks, 89.7% of individuals achieved VS with no significant differences by initial regimen. CD4 mean increase was 257.8 (249.3; 266.2) cells/mm3, and it was lower with TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT and TDF/FTC/RPV compared with ABC/3TC/DTG. CD4 percentage normalization was less likely with TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT, and MTMR was less likely with TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT and TDF/FTC + RAL. The proportion of discontinuations due to AE was higher with TDF/FTC + bDRV (9.7%), followed by TDF/FTC/EVG/CBT (9.5%) and TDF/FTC + DTG (7.9%). Compared with ABC/3TC/DTG, cholesterol and LDL mean increases were higher with TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT and lower with TDF/FTC + DTG, TDF/FTC/RPV and TDF/FTC + RAL. Higher mean increases in triglycerides were significantly associated with TAF/FTC/EVG/CBT. Regimens containing DTG showed higher creatinine increases. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly greater immunological response and safety of some combinations may be useful for making decisions when initiating treatment.

Dolutegravir plus lamivudine for maintenance of HIV viral suppression in adults with and without historical resistance to lamivudine: 48-week results of a non-randomized, pilot clinical trial (ART-PRO).

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of a switch to dolutegravir plus lamivudine in aviremic individuals without evidence of persistent lamivudine resistance-associated mutations in baseline proviral DNA population sequencing. METHODS: Open-label, single-arm, 48-week pilot trial. HIV-1 infected adults, naïve to integrase inhibitors, with CD4+ above 350 cell/µL and fewer than 50 HIV-1 RNA copies per mL the year prior to study entry switched to dolutegravir plus lamivudine. Participants were excluded if baseline proviral DNA population genotyping detected lamivudine resistance-associated mutations. To detect resistance minority variants, proviral DNA next-generation sequencing was retrospectively performed from baseline samples. Primary efficacy endpoint was proportion of participants with fewer than 50 HIV-1 RNA copies per mL at week 48. Safety and tolerability outcomes were incidence of adverse events and treatment discontinuations. ART-PRO is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03539224. FINDINGS: 41 participants switched to dolutegravir plus lamivudine, 21 with lamivudine resistance mutations in historical plasma genotypes. Baseline next-generation sequencing detected lamivudine resistance mutations (M184V/I and/or K65R/E/N) over a 5% threshold in 15/21 (71·4%) and 3/20 (15%) of participants with and without history of lamivudine resistance, respectively. At week 48, 92·7% of participants (38/41) had fewer than 50 HIV-1 RNA copies per mL. There were no cases of virologic failure. Three participants with historical lamivudine resistance were prematurely discontinued from the study (2 protocol violations, one adverse event). Ten participants (4 in the group with historical lamivudine resistance) had a transient viral rebound, all resuppressed on dolutegravir plus lamivudine. There were 28 drug-related adverse events, only one leading to discontinuation. INTERPRETATION: In this pilot trial, dolutegravir plus lamivudine was effective in maintaining virologic control despite past historical lamivudine resistance and presence of archived lamivudine resistance-associated mutations detected by next generation sequencing. Further studies are needed to confirm our results. FUNDING: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI16/00837-PI16/00678.

The algorithm used for the interpretation of doravirine transmitted drug resistance strongly influences clinical practice and guideline recommendations.

OBJECTIVES: We report the results of the reverse transcriptase (RT)/protease (PR) transmitted drug resistance (TDR) prevalence study in 2018, focusing on doravirine resistance-associated mutations and the differences observed when Stanford or French National Agency for AIDS Research (ANRS)/Spanish Network of AIDS Research (RIS)/IAS-USA resistance interpretation algorithms are used to describe clinically relevant resistance. METHODS: We used the WHO 2009 list to investigate the prevalence of NNRTI, NRTI and PI TDR, in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected patients, adding mutations E138A/G/K/Q/R, V106I, V108I, V179L, G190Q, H221Y, F227C/L/V, M230IDR, L234I, P236L and Y318F in RT. The prevalence of doravirine resistance-associated mutations, as described by Soulie et al. in 2019, was evaluated. Clinically relevant TDR was investigated using the latest versions of ANRS, RIS, IAS-USA and Stanford algorithms. RESULTS: NNRTI mutations were detected in 82 of 606 (13.5%) patients. We found 18 patients (3.0%) with NRTI mutations and 5 patients (0.8%) with PI mutations. We detected 11 patients harbouring doravirine resistance-associated mutations (prevalence of 1.8%). Furthermore, we observed important differences in clinically relevant resistance to doravirine when ANRS/RIS (0.7%), IAS-USA (0.5%) or Stanford algorithms (5.0%) were used. V106I, which was detected in 3.8% of the patients, was the main mutation driving these differences. V106I detection was not associated with any of the clinical, demographic or virological characteristics of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of NRTI and PI TDR remains constant in Spain. Doravirine TDR is very infrequent by RIS/ANRS/IAS-USA algorithms, in contrast with results using the Stanford algorithm. Further genotype-phenotype studies are necessary to elucidate the role of V106I in doravirine resistance.

Immune recovery markers in a double blind clinical trial comparing dolutegravir and raltegravir based regimens as initial therapy (SPRING-2).

BACKGROUND: Multiple T-cell marker recovery (MTMR: CD4+ T-cells >500 cel/mm3 plus CD4+% >29% plus CD4+/CD8+ ratio >1) has been proposed as the most complete level of immune reconstitution. In this study we quantified differences in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, CD4+% recovery and MTMR after starting HIV-1 treatment with dolutegravir (DTG) vs. raltegravir (RAL) plus a NRTI backbone. METHODS: Exploratory post-hoc analysis of the SPRING-2 study, a randomized double-blind clinical trial comparing DTG and RAL as third agents in naive HIV-infected patients at 100 sites in Canada, USA, Australia, and Europe. Percentage differences and corresponding precision based on 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-values were calculated for i) CD4+/CD8+ ratio normalization, ii) CD4+% normalization, and iii) the achievement of MTMR. RESULTS: A total of 822 participants were analyzed (411 in each group). No statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients who reached a CD4+/CD8+ ratio ≥0.5 & ≥1 at w48 & w96 were observed. At w96, the proportion of patients with a CD4+/CD8+ ratio ≥1 was similar (30.43% DTG vs. 29.57% RAL). No differences were observed in the mean increase in CD4+/CD8+ ratio from baseline at both w48 & w96. Similarly, no significant differences in the CD4+/CD8+>29% were observed at w96 (72.95% DTG vs 69.28% RAL). The proportion of patients attaining MTMR criteria was also similar in the DTG group and the RAL group at w48 (20.33% vs. 18.26%; difference 2.07 (95%CI (-3.67;7.81) P = 0.481 and w96 (28.70% vs. 27.13; difference 1.56 (95%CI -5.22;8.34) P = 0.652). CONCLUSION: After comparing DTG and RAL, no differences on immune recovery markers were observed.

Effectiveness and safety of antiretroviral treatment in pre- and postmenopausal women living with HIV in a multicentre cohort.

BACKGROUND: To compare effectiveness and safety of initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) among premenopausal and postmenopausal women living with HIV aged 45-60 years from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) who initiated ART between 2004 and 2015. METHODS: Multivariable regression models were used to compare post- versus premenopausal women regarding viral suppression (≤50 copies/ml), change in CD4+ T-cell count and time to treatment change (TC) at 48 and 96 weeks after ART initiation. RESULTS: Among 230 women, 154 (67%) were premenopausal at ART initiation. The most frequent initial regimen was tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine/efavirenz prescribed in 49 (32%) premenopausal and 22 (29%) postmenopausal women. The proportion of TC was 35.7% and 30.3% at 48 weeks and 51.3% and 47.4% at 96 weeks, for pre- and postmenopausal women, respectively. There were no significant differences in CD4+ T-cell count changes from ART initiation, viral load suppression, time to TC or reason for TC between both groups. The main reason for TC was occurrence of an adverse event, followed by simplification, in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: ART effectiveness and safety did not differ significantly between pre- and postmenopausal women.