Characterization of virologic failure after an initially successful 48-week course of antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS outpatients treated in Santos, Brazil
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 12(3): 162-166, June 2008. graf, tab
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-493641
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
We characterized the virologic failure after an initially successful 48-week course of antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in a retrospective cohort study involving patients from Santos, Brazil. Patients with plasma HIV RNA below 500 copies/mL for 48 weeks were included. Variables analyzed included gender, age, level of education, marital status, mode of HIV acquisition, viral load, and CD4 cell count upon admission. There were 4,909 patients registered with the clinic, of which 669 patients met all the inclusion criteria (41.6 percent female and 58.4 percent male). Only 27.5 percent of the patients maintained undetectable viral loads during up to one year of follow-up. After 48 weeks, virologic failure occurred earlier in females and in patients first treated with an antiretroviral regimen other than highly active antiretroviral therapy. Patients who were married or had a steady partner experienced virologic failure later than did those who were separated or widowed. The percentage of public health clinic patients who maintain undetectable viral loads for a period of over a year is much lower than that observed among patients enrolled in clinical trials. Females, individuals in unstable relationships, single individuals and widowed individuals should be given special attention in order to improve durability of viral suppression.
Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
RNA, Viral
/
HIV Infections
/
Anti-HIV Agents
/
Viral Load
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2008
Type:
Article