HIV rebound in HIV controllers is associated with a specific fecal microbiome profile.

HIV infection is associated with gut dysbiosis, and microbiome variability may affect HIV control when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped. The TLR7 agonist, vesatolimod, was previously associated with a modest delay in viral rebound following analytical treatment interruption in HIV controllers (HCs). Using a retrospective analysis of fecal samples from HCs treated with vesatolimod or placebo (NCT03060447), people with chronic HIV (CH; NCT02858401) or without HIV (PWOH), we examined fecal microbiome profile in HCs before/after treatment, and in CH and PWOH. Microbiome diversity and abundance were compared between groups to investigate the association between specific phyla/species, immune biomarkers, and viral outcomes during treatment interruption. Although there were no significant differences in gut microbiome diversity between people with and without HIV, HCs, and CH shared common features that distinguished them from PWOH. there was a trend toward greater microbiome diversity among HCs. Treatment with vesatolimod reduced dysbiosis in HCs. Firmicutes positively correlated with T-cell activation, while Bacteroidetes and Euryarchaeota inversely correlated with TLR7-mediated immune activation. Specific types of fecal microbiome abundance (e.g. Alistipes putredinis) positively correlated with HIV rebound. In conclusion, variability in the composition of the fecal microbiome is associated with markers of immune activation following vesatolimod treatment and ART interruption.

The TLR7 agonist vesatolimod induced a modest delay in viral rebound in HIV controllers after cessation of antiretroviral therapy.

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists, in combination with other therapies, can induce sustained control of simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in nonhuman primates. Here, we report the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1b clinical trial of an oral TLR7 agonist, vesatolimod, in HIV-1-infected controllers on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We randomized participants 2:1 to receive vesatolimod (n = 17) or placebo (n = 8) once every other week for a total of 10 doses while continuing on ART. ART was then interrupted, and the time to viral rebound was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Vesatolimod was associated with induction of immune cell activation, decreases in intact proviral DNA during ART, and a modest increase in time to rebound after ART was interrupted. The delayed viral rebound was predicted by the lower intact proviral DNA at the end of vesatolimod treatment (13 days after the final dose). Inferred pathway analysis suggested increased dendritic cell and natural killer cell cross-talk and an increase in cytotoxicity potential after vesatolimod dosing. Larger clinical studies will be necessary to assess the efficacy of vesatolimod-based combination therapies aimed at long-term control of HIV infection.

Loneliness among older adults living with HIV: the "older old" may be less lonely than the "younger old".

Loneliness is common among older (age 50+) people living with HIV (PLWH). However, little is known about the prevalence of loneliness across subgroups of older PLWH, and the factors that impact loneliness. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 998 older PLWH. Of those, 61% were 50-59 years old and 39% were 60 or older. The majority were male (89%), gay (77%), and white (69%). Fifty-one percent of participants were classified as lonely. The prevalence of loneliness was lower in the older age group, 46.2% vs. 53.8% (Χ2 = 5.53, p = 0.02). Covariates associated with loneliness included being younger, being single, having at least a four-year college degree, living alone, screening positive for depression, using recreational drugs, smoking tobacco, having a lower quality of life, and not feeling close to friends. Logistic regression analysis showed that the "younger old" were at 26% greater risk of loneliness, after controlling for the effects of these covariates (RR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.45). Reasons why the "older old" were less lonely may include lower rates of depression and lower likelihood of feeling distant from friends. Understanding factors that protect the "older old" against loneliness may provide guidance for future interventions.

Implementation of a community pharmacy-based pre-exposure prophylaxis service: a novel model for pre-exposure prophylaxis care.

Background National guidelines for the provision of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce a person's risk of acquiring HIV were made available in 2014. We created a pharmacist-managed HIV PrEP clinic in a community pharmacy setting at Kelley-Ross Pharmacy in Seattle, WA, USA. METHODS: The clinic operates under a collaborative drug therapy agreement based on these guidelines. This allows pharmacists to initiate and manage tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine under the supervision of a physician medical director. RESULTS: Between March 2015 and February 2018, 714 patients were evaluated and 695 (97.3%) initiated PrEP. Five hundred and thirteen (74%) patients began medication the same day as their initial appointment. Of the prescriptions filled in our pharmacy, 90% of patients had a mean proportion of days covered (PDC) greater than 80%, and 98% had a zero-dollar patient responsibility per month, including uninsured individuals. 19% of patients were lost to follow up, with an effective drop-out rate of 25%. Two hundred and seven diagnoses of sexually transmissible infections were made. There were no HIV seroconversions in the service. CONCLUSION: The pharmacist-managed PrEP clinic proved to be a successful alternative model of PrEP care, with high initiation rates and low drop-out and lost-to-follow-up rates. This may benefit individuals who do not access PrEP in traditional health care settings or where PrEP access is scarce. Financial sustainability of the model was dependent on the ability of pharmacists in the clinic to bill insurance plans for their services in accordance with Washington State legislative changes requiring commercial insurances to recognise pharmacists as providers.

Atazanavir Plus Cobicistat: Week 48 and Week 144 Subgroup Analyses of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Cobicistat (COBI) enhances atazanavir (ATV) pharmacokinetic parameters similarly to ritonavir (RTV) in both healthy volunteers and HIV-infected adults. Primary efficacy and safety outcomes of this Phase 3, international, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active- controlled trial in HIV-1-infected treatment-naïve adults (GS-US-216-0114/NCT01108510) demonstrated that ATV+COBI was non-inferior to ATV+RTV, each in combination with emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF), at Weeks 48 and 144, with high rates of virologic success for both regimens (85.2% and 87.4%, respectively, at Week 48; and 72.1% and 74.1% at Week 144), and with comparable safety and tolerability. Here, we describe virologic response and treatment discontinuation by a wider range of subgroups than previously presented. METHODS: Subgroup analyses by baseline CD4 count (≤200, 201-350, >350 cells/mm3), baseline HIV-1 RNA level (≤100,000, >100,000 copies/mL), race, sex, and age (<40, ≥40 years) evaluated ATV+COBI versus ATV+RTV univariate odds ratios (ORs) for virologic success (viral load <50 copies/mL, intention-to-treat US Food and Drug Administration Snapshot algorithm) and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) at Weeks 48 and 144. Of 692 patients randomized, 344 received ATV+COBI and 348 ATV+RTV. RESULTS: ATV+COBI versus ATV+RTV ORs for virologic success did not significantly differ by regimen overall at Weeks 48 and 144 (OR 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64, 1.26) or within subgroups, except in females, for whom ATV+COBI was favored at Week 144 (OR 2.36; 95% CI: 1.02, 5.47). However, there were more discontinuations due to withdrawal of consent and pregnancies in females receiving ATV+RTV versus ATV+COBI. ORs for discontinuation due to AEs did not significantly differ by regimen overall at Weeks 48 and 144 (OR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.58) or within subgroups. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that both ATV+COBI and ATV+RTV, each with FTC/TDF, are effective and well-tolerated treatment options across a wide demographic range of HIV-infected patients.

Tenofovir Alafenamide Versus Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in the First Protease Inhibitor-Based Single-Tablet Regimen for Initial HIV-1 Therapy: A Randomized Phase 2 Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel tenofovir prodrug, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), as part of the first protease inhibitor-based single-tablet regimen (STR) for initial treatment of HIV-1 infection. METHODS: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive adults with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 70 mL/min were randomized 2:1 to receive the darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (D/C/F/TAF) STR (TAF: N = 103) or darunavir + cobicistat + emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF: N = 50) once daily with matched placebos for 48 weeks. RESULTS: At week 24, viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) rates were similar (TAF 74.8% vs. TDF 74.0%). At week 48, rates were TAF 76.7% vs. TDF 84.0%; the difference was driven by higher rate of discontinuations in TAF (6.8%) vs. TDF (2%). Among those with virologic failure, none developed resistance. Most adverse events were of mild/moderate severity. The mean change in serum creatinine from baseline at week 48 was 0.06 mg/dL (95% confidence interval: 0.04 to 0.08) for TAF vs. 0.09 mg/dL (95% confidence interval: 0.05 to 0.14) for TDF (P = 0.053). The % change in retinol binding protein/Cr ratio was +9 (TAF) vs. +54 (TDF), P = 0.003; the % change in urine ß-2 microglobulin/Cr ratio was -42.0 (TAF) vs. +2.3 (TDF), P = 0.002. The % change in hip bone mineral density (BMD) was -0.84 (TAF) vs. -3.82 (TDF), P < 0.001 and in spine BMD was -1.57 (TAF) vs. -3.62 (TDF), P = 0.003. There were no fractures in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The TAF arm had significantly improved renal and bone safety parameters: less proteinuria and less change in hip and spine BMD, consistent with results from a similarly designed study of the elvitegravir/C/F/TAF STR. This D/C/F/TAF STR offers a promising option for initial HIV treatment, with the high barrier to resistance of darunavir, and the potential for improved long-term renal and bone safety with TAF.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After a Switch to a Single-Tablet Regimen of Rilpivirine, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir DF in HIV-1-Positive, Virologically Suppressed Individuals: Additional Findings From a Randomized, Open-Label, 48-Week Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can provide important information about treatment tolerability in HIV-1-infected patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate PROs following switching from a boosted protease inhibitor-based regimen to the single-tablet regimen (STR) of rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (RPV/FTC/TDF) in the 48-week open-label Switching Boosted PI to Rilpivirine in Combination with Truvada as a Single-Tablet Regimen (SPIRIT) trial. METHODS: In the open-label SPIRIT trial, patients were randomized to receive an STR of RPV/FTC/TDF (n = 317) for 48 weeks or stay on their baseline regimen of a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor and two nucleoside/nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (PI + RTV + 2NRTIs, n = 159) for 24 weeks before switching to RPV/FTC/TDF for another 24 weeks. PRO assessments included the HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ) and the HIV Symptom Index Questionnaire (SIQ). RESULTS: At week 24, the mean HIV TSQ improvement from baseline was significantly greater in the RPV/FTC/TDF group than the PI + RTV + 2NRTIs group (p < 0.001). On the HIV SIQ, the percentage of patients reporting a shift from 'symptom' to 'no symptom' was significantly greater with RPV/FTC/TDF treatment compared with PI + RTV + 2NRTIs for all items (all p ≤ 0.01), with total within-group occurrence of 13/20 symptoms significantly decreasing from baseline for RPV/FTC/TDF patients. In the delayed switch group, significantly fewer patients reported diarrhea and sleep problems at week 48 vs. week 24. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that switching to the STR RPV/FTC/TDF from a PI-based multi-pill regimen is associated with greater patient-reported treatment satisfaction and improved tolerability in HIV-1-infected, virologically suppressed individuals.

Management of dyslipidemia in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

Dyslipidemias are more common in the patient population with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced HIV-associated morbidity and mortality and has transformed HIV disease into a chronic, manageable condition. As a result, non-AIDS-related illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, are now the leading causes of death in the HIV-infected population. Optimizing fasting lipid parameters plays an important role in reducing cardiovascular risk in this population. This review focuses on the management of dyslipidemia in HIV-infected individuals treated with combination ART.

Phase 2 study of cobicistat versus ritonavir each with once-daily atazanavir and fixed-dose emtricitabine/tenofovir df in the initial treatment of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of cobicistat versus ritonavir as pharmacoenhancers for atazanavir when administered with emtricitabine/tenofovir df as initial treatment for HIV-1 infection. DESIGN: Randomized, partially placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study. PARTICIPANTS: Antiretroviral treatment-naive adults, screening HIV-1 RNA of at least 5000 copies/ml and CD4 cell count more than 50 cells/µl. INTERVENTION: Randomized 2 : 1 (stratified by HIV RNA ≤ or >100,000 copies/ml) to receive placebo-blinded once-daily cobicistat 150 mg or ritonavir 100 mg with open-label atazanavir and fixed-dose emtricitabine/tenofovir df. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy and safety at weeks 24 and 48. RESULTS: Eighty-four percent of ATV/co participants and 86% of ATV/r participants suppressed HIV-1 RNA (<50 copies/ ml) at week 24, and 82 and 86% at week 48, respectively, and mean CD4 cell count increased 203 and 199 cells/µl at week 24 and 208 and 177 cells/µl at week 48, respectively. Study treatment discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in 4% ATV/co and in 3% ATV/r participants through 48 weeks. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 36% ATV/co and 48% ATV/r participants; hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 96 and 100%, and ocular icterus or jaundice occurred in 14 and 17%, respectively. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (Cockcroft-Gault, ml/min) decrease occurred in both treatment groups and was evident at week 2 (ATV/co -9, ATV/r -4), reached a nadir by week 24 (-15, -14, respectively), and did not progress further through week 48 (-13, -14). CONCLUSION: Using cobicistat and ritonavir as pharmacoenhancers for atazanavir and administered with emtricitabine/tenofovir df achieved comparable rates of virologic suppression and CD4 cell count increase with satisfactory safety profiles.

Prescribing and using self-injectable antiretrovirals: how concordant are physician and patient perspectives?

BACKGROUND: The selection of agents for any treatment regimen is in part influenced by physician and patient attitudes. This study investigated attitudinal motivators and barriers to the use of self-injectable antiretroviral agents among physicians and patients and measured the degree of concordance between physician and patient perspectives. METHODS: Attitudes toward prescribing and usage of self-injectable antiretroviral therapy (SIAT) were assessed by structured interview in 2 cohorts sampled from the European Union and the USA: 499 HIV-treating physicians and 603 treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients. Motivators and barriers to prescribing SIAT were identified from statistical analysis of the associations between physicians' ratings of enfuvirtide-based therapy compared to standard oral-based therapy and 2 indicators of enfuvirtide prescribing behavior. Patients' attitudes were assessed by their responses to a written profile of enfuvirtide and their ratings of the likelihood of accepting a treatment offer. RESULTS: Both indicators of SIAT prescribing behavior were predicted by the same pattern of physician beliefs. Nonprescribing was associated with: (1) the belief that offering enfuvirtide would be perceived negatively by patients, leading to treatment refusal and nonadherence; (2) the belief that prescribing enfuvirtide is harder to justify in terms of time/resources; and (3) a lack of confidence in the efficacy and use of enfuvirtide in practice (all p < 0.05). However, physicians' beliefs were not in concordance with patients' views. After reading a profile of enfuvirtide, 76% patients said that they would be moderately or highly likely to accept a treatment offer, although most (72%) had not discussed enfuvirtide with their doctor. Patients' beliefs predicted the likelihood of accepting enfuvirtide. CONCLUSION: Physician and patient beliefs about SIAT influence prescribing behavior and compliance yet may not be concordant, with patients having more positive attitudes towards SIAT than anticipated by physicians.

Efficacy and safety of etravirine (TMC125) in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients: 48-week results of a phase IIb trial.

Forty-eight-week results from a randomized, multicentre, part-blinded, phase IIb clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of 400 and 800 mg etravirine twice daily (phase IIb formulation) and optimized background regimen versus standard-of-care regimen are presented. Both etravirine doses demonstrated sustained virological suppression at 48 weeks and a favourable tolerability profile. Etravirine demonstrated higher efficacy than control, irrespective of the number of detectable nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-resistance-associated mutations at baseline or active background antiretrovirals.

Transmission cluster of multiclass highly drug-resistant HIV-1 among 9 men who have sex with men in Seattle/King County, WA, 2005-2007.

BACKGROUND: From 2005 through 2007, Seattle health care providers identified cases of primary multiclass drug-resistant (MDR) HIV-1 with common patterns of resistance to antiretrovirals (ARVs). Through surveillance activities and genetic analysis, the local Health Department and the University of Washington identified phylogenetically linked cases among ARV treatment-naive and -experienced individuals. METHODS: HIV-1 pol nucleotide consensus sequences submitted to the University of Washington Clinical Virology Laboratory were assessed for phylogenetically related MDR HIV. Demographic and clinical data collected included HIV diagnosis date, ARV history, and laboratory results. RESULTS: Seven ARV-naive men had phylogenetically linked MDR strains with resistance to most ARVs; these were linked to 2 ARV-experienced men. All 9 men reported methamphetamine use and multiple anonymous male partners. Primary transmissions were diagnosed for more than a 2-year period, 2005-2007. Three, including the 2 ARV-experienced men, were prescribed ARVs. CONCLUSIONS: This cluster of 9 men with phylogenetically related highly drug-resistant MDR HIV strains and common risk factors but without reported direct epidemiologic links may have important implications to public health. This cluster demonstrates the importance of primary resistance testing and of collaboration between the public and private medical community in identifying MDR outbreaks. Public health interventions and surveillance are needed to reduce transmission of MDR HIV-1.

Quality of life and tolerability after administration of enfuvirtide with a thin-walled needle: QUALITE Study.

PURPOSE: Use of enfuvirtide-containing regimens leads to virologic and immunologic benefits and quality of life (QoL) improvements. This study (QUALITE) was designed to primarily identify baseline predictors of QoL improvements and characterize injection site reaction (ISR) signs/symptoms using a thinner/shorter needle. METHOD: Enfuvirtide-naïve, antiretroviral (ARV)-experienced patients with CD4 counts >50 cells/mm3 enrolled in this prospective, 12-week, multisite, open-label study. Patients self-administered enfuvirtide, 90 mg bid, using thin-walled, 31-gauge/8-mm needles in combination with other ARVs. QoL was evaluated with MOS-HIV. RESULTS: Of the 361 patients enrolled, 346 contributed to QoL assessments. Baseline median HIV RNA and CD4 counts were 4.21 log10 copies/mL and 203 cells/mm3, respectively. Although no baseline factors were predictive of week 12 QoL improvement, 9 of 11 MOS-HIV domain scores improved significantly, including physical function (p = .0002) and mental health (p = .0006). Through week 12, 87% of patients reported ISRs; 59% and 28% reported worst pain/discomfort grade < or = 1 and grade > or = 2, respectively, and none were considered serious. Patients reported that self-injection minimally impacted daily functioning or activities. CONCLUSION: Although no predictors of QoL were identified, significant improvements in QoL were observed with minimal clinically significant ISRs (grade > or = 2) using the 31-gauge/8-mm needle.

Efficacy and safety of etravirine (TMC125) in patients with highly resistant HIV-1: primary 24-week analysis.

OBJECTIVE: TMC125-C223 is an open-label, partially blinded, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dosages of etravirine (TMC125), a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with activity against wild-type and NNRTI-resistant HIV-1. DESIGN: A total of 199 patients were randomly assigned 2: 2: 1 to twice-daily etravirine 400 mg, 800 mg and control groups, respectively. The primary endpoint was a change in viral load from baseline at week 24 in the intention-to-treat population. METHODS: Patients had HIV-1 with genotypic resistance to approved NNRTIs and at least three primary protease inhibitor (PI) mutations. Etravirine groups received an optimized background of at least two approved antiretroviral agents [nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and/or lopinavir/ritonavir and/or enfuvirtide]. Control patients received optimized regimens of at least three antiretroviral agents (NRTIs or PIs and/or enfuvirtide). RESULTS: The mean change from baseline in HIV-1 RNA at week 24 was -1.04, -1.18 and -0.19 log10 copies/ml for etravirine 400 mg twice a day, 800 mg twice a day and the control group, respectively (P < 0.05 for both etravirine groups versus control). Etravirine showed no dose-related effects on safety and tolerability. No consistent pattern of neuropsychiatric symptoms was observed. There were few hepatic adverse events, and rashes were predominantly early onset and mild to moderate in severity. CONCLUSION: Etravirine plus an optimized background significantly reduced HIV-1-RNA levels from baseline after 24 weeks in patients with substantial NNRTI and PI resistance, and demonstrated a favorable safety profile compared with control.

Concomitant use of an active boosted protease inhibitor with enfuvirtide in treatment-experienced, HIV-infected individuals: recent data and consensus recommendations.

Recent data from clinical trials investigating the efficacy of enfuvirtide, a fusion inhibitor, in treatment-experienced patients have revealed that the addition of enfuvirtide (ENF) to an active boosted protease inhibitor regimen doubles the rate of virological response. At week 48 of the TORO studies, 55% of patients previously naive to and receiving lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) with ENF achieved a viral load of <400 copies/mL compared with 24% of patients treated with LPV/r alone. At week 24 of the RESIST studies, 70% of previously ENF-naive patients who took both ENF and tipranavir/ritonavir (TPV/r) achieved a >or=1 log10 reduction in viral load compared with 37% of such patients treated with TPV/r alone. Similarly, concomitant use of TMC114/ritonavir (TMC114/r) with ENF, compared with TMC114/r alone, increased the number of patients with <50 copies/mL from 46% to 64% in a combined 24-week analysis from the POWER trials. Data from these trials suggest that combining one agent from a new class with a new agent from a previously exposed class offers a greater chance of achieving full virological control than either type of agent alone. Undetectable viraemia should be the primary objective for treatment-experienced patients requiring a switch in therapy, and the present data support the combination of an active boosted protease inhibitor with an agent from a new class (e.g., ENF) for triple-class-experienced patients.

Lack of recurrence of hyperlactatemia in HIV-infected patients switched from stavudine to abacavir or zidovudine.

Stavudine (d4T) has been observed in clinical trials and cohort studies to be more often implicated in cases of hyperlactatemia than other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, possibly because of its relatively greater propensity to induce mitochondrial toxicity. The ESS40010 study was a 48-week, open-label, switch study that assessed changes in serum lactate levels and signs/symptoms of hyperlactatemia after substitution of abacavir (n = 86) or zidovudine (n = 32) for d4T in 118 virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients (HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/mL) who had developed serum lactate concentrations > or =2.2 mmol/L (n = 16) or had remained normolactatemic (n = 102) after receiving > or =6 months of d4T-based treatment. Median serum lactate decreased significantly below baseline at week 24 (-0.15 mmol/L, P = 0.0002) and week 48 (-0.15 mmol/L, P = 0.0015). In 10 hyperlactatemic patients in whom d4T was discontinued, serum HIV-1 RNA levels rebounded over the ensuing 31 days, but virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/mL) was regained when treatment using abacavir or zidovudine was subsequently instituted. In the group with elevated lactate at baseline, symptoms of hyperlactatemia improved in 8% to 23% of patients, did not change in 69%, and worsened in 8%. Serum transaminases, which had been elevated while patients received d4T, normalized after d4T discontinuation and remained in the normal range after the switch to abacavir or zidovudine. Overall, in patients with d4T-associated hyperlactatemia, stopping d4T results in normalization of lactate and a rebound in viral load; restarting treatment using abacavir or zidovudine subsequently maintains normal lactate levels and rapidly leads to a return of virologic suppression.

Improvement in lipoatrophy associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients switched from stavudine to abacavir or zidovudine: the results of the TARHEEL study.

Stavudine use is a contributing factor for lipoatrophy, whereas use of abacavir or zidovudine is less likely to cause this complication. The TARHEEL study was a 48-week, open-label study that assessed changes in lipoatrophy after abacavir (86 patients [73%]) or zidovudine (32 patients [27%]), 300 mg twice daily, was substituted for stavudine for 118 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients (HIV type 1 RNA level, <400 copies/mL) with virological suppression who had developed lipoatrophy after > or =6 months of stavudine-based treatment. At week 48, full-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry demonstrated a median increase in arm fat of 35%, leg fat of 12%, and trunk fat of 18%, compared with the baseline level. These improvements coincided with fat gain in lipoatrophic areas that was documented by computerized tomography. Results of a "body image" questionnaire showed that a substantial percentage of patients reported some or a lot of fat gain in the arms (22%), legs (18%), buttocks (19%), and face (27%). HIV suppression was maintained over the study period. In conclusion, replacing stavudine with abacavir or zidovudine resulted in improvement in stavudine-induced lipoatrophy.

Sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus-discordant partnerships among men who have sex with men.

Sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) at 5 Seattle clinics were assessed for bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-discordant partnerships, sexual behavior, and drug use. Of the HIV-positive men, 45% reported having HIV-negative sex partners and 42% reported having sex partners with unknown serostatus during the past 2 months, whereas 14% and 57% of HIV-negative men reported having HIV-positive and unknown-serostatus sex partners, respectively. Correlates of sex partners with unknown serostatus were recruiting sex partners at bathhouses or parks. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis was diagnosed in 12% of HIV-positive and 13% of HIV-negative MSM, and the rates did not differ between men with HIV-concordant and HIV-discordant partnerships. High prevalences of bacterial STDs and HIV-discordant partnerships emphasize the need for interventions to foster serostatus discussion, condom use, fewer anonymous partners, and STD screening.