[Pilot study of antiretroviral therapy in Djibouti]

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 112 HIV positive patients who had received antiretroviral therapy for > 3 months to assess the efficacy of treatment [viral load < 400 copies/mL]. The median age at enrolment was 36 years, 90% of patients were at the AIDS stage and median CD4 rate was 118/mm[3]. Patients received a combined treatment of 2 NRTI +1 NNRTI [51%], 3 NRTI [45%] and 2 NRTI+1 PI [4%]. Virological efficacy was seen in 74% of the patients, irrespective of the prescribed protocol and the initial clinical and immunological profile. Mean improvements measured were 20% on the Karnofsky index [KI], 2.1 kg/m[2] in body mass index and 82 cells/mm[3] in CD4. The prevalence of side effects was 84%. The predictors for treatment success were quality of care and KI > 70%