Virological failure after switch to long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine injectable therapy: an in-depth analysis.

BACKGROUND: Long-acting (LA) injectable therapy with cabotegravir (CAB) and rilpivirine (RPV) is currently used as maintenance treatment for HIV-1, and has a low risk for virological failure (VF). Although the risk is low, the circumstances and impact of VF in the real-world setting merits further evaluation. METHODS: We performed an in-depth clinical, virological and pharmacokinetic analysis on the reasons behind, and the impact of VF during LA CAB/RPV therapy in five cases from the Netherlands. Genotypic resistance testing was performed after the occurrence of VF and drug plasma (trough) concentrations were measured after VF was established and on any other samples to assess on-treatment drug levels. CAB and RPV drug levels that were below the first quartile of the population cut-off (

Zidovudine continuous infusion in an HIV-infected pregnant woman with a phobia of swallowing pills.

The authors report the difficulties of preventing mother-to-child transmission in a pregnant HIV-infected woman with a phobia of swallowing pills. After multiple attempts and just as many failures, the authors ended up with cART consisting of small tablets of nevirapine, lamivudine and a continuous intravenous infusion of zidovudine given via an elastomeric pump at home. This case demonstrates the difficulties that HIV physicians can encounter in pregnant women who have difficulties in swallowing tablets. In exceptional circumstances, continuous infusion of zidovudine may be an option, even in an outpatient setting.