Optimizing antiretroviral therapy for children living with HIV : Experience from an observational cohort in Lesotho

Copyright: © 2023 Tukei et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited..

INTRODUCTION: We describe transition of HIV-positive children from efavirenz- or nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) to optimal dolutegravir (DTG) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) (solid formulation)-based ART in Lesotho.

METHODS: We followed a cohort of children less than 15 years of age who were initiated on ART on or after January 1, 2018 from 21 selected health facilities in Lesotho. From March 2020 to May 2022, we collected data retrospectively through chart abstraction and prospectively through caregiver interviews to cover a period of 24 months following treatment initiation. We used a structured questionnaire to collect data on demographics, ART regimen, drug formulations and switches, viral suppression, retention, and drug administration challenges. Data were summarized as frequencies and percentages, using SAS ver.9.4.

RESULTS: Of 310 children enrolled in the study, 169 (54.5%) were female, and median age at ART initiation was 5.9 years (IQR 1.1-11.1). During follow-up, 19 (6.1%) children died, 41 (13.2%) were lost to follow-up and 74 (23.9%) transferred to non-study sites. At baseline, 144 (46.4%) children were receiving efavirenz-based ART regimen, 133 (42.9%) LPV/r, 27 (8.7%) DTG, 5 (1.6%) nevirapine; 1 child had incomplete records. By study end, 143 (46.1%) children were receiving LPV/r-based ART regimen, 109 (35.2%) DTG, and 58 (18.7%) were on efavirenz or nevirapine-based regimen. Of 116 children with viral load results after six months or more on a consistent regimen, viral suppression was seen in 35/53 (66.0%) children on LPV/r, 36/38 (94.7%) children on DTG and 19/24 (79.2%) children on efavirenz.

CONCLUSION: Following optimal ART introduction in Lesotho, most children in the cohort were transitioned and many attained or maintained viral suppression after transition; however, we recommend more robust viral load monitoring and patient tracking to reduce losses and improve outcomes after ART transition.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:18

Enthalten in:

PloS one - 18(2023), 7 vom: 01., Seite e0288619

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Tukei, Vincent J [VerfasserIn]
Herrera, Nicole [VerfasserIn]
Masitha, Matseliso [VerfasserIn]
Masenyetse, Lieketseng [VerfasserIn]
Mokone, Majoalane [VerfasserIn]
Mokone, Mafusi [VerfasserIn]
Maile, Limpho [VerfasserIn]
Gill, Michelle M [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

2494G1JF75
99DK7FVK1H
Anti-HIV Agents
Efavirenz
JE6H2O27P8
Journal Article
Lopinavir
Nevirapine
O3J8G9O825
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Ritonavir

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 19.07.2023

Date Revised 19.07.2023

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1371/journal.pone.0288619

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM359600085