An audit of antiretroviral treatment use in HIV-infected patients in a London clinic: the limitations of observational databases when auditing antiretroviral treatment use

Objective

To audit the use of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in a large treatment clinic in the UK against the British HIV Association (BHIVA) ARV treatment guidelines.

Methods

All patients under follow‐up between 1st January 2000 and 1st January 2001 were included. The most recent CD4 count and HIV RNA level prior to 1st January 2001, and the nadir CD4 count and peak HIV RNA level over follow‐up, were used to identify which patients should be receiving HAART according to the guidelines.

Results

One thousand two hundred and sixty‐four patients were included in the analysis (63.8% homosexual, 29.0% heterosexual risk; 72.9% white; 79.2% male). Almost half of patients had ever had a CD4 count below 200 cells/µL and over 80% had previously had a viral load above 4 log₁₀ HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL. Under 2000 BHIVA guidelines, treatment would be recommended in 77.4% patients. Overall, 819 patients were receiving ARV therapy. Two hundred and eighty‐five patients were not receiving treatment when guidelines suggest they should (including 33 patients who were receiving regimens not recommended in the guidelines). These patients were younger, less likely to be homosexual and had higher CD4 nadirs than those who were receiving ARV treatment. Almost half of these patients had previously received ARV therapy but were not currently receiving it.

Conclusion

Only a small proportion of patients at our centre were not receiving ARV treatment in line with national guidelines. While genuine reasons may exist for these departures from optimal care, this may simply reflect the limitations of using observational databases when auditing treatment use in a clinic setting.

     

Longitudinal changes in serum lipids among HIV-infected men on highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to describe longitudinal changes in serum lipids among HIV-infected men receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with long-term follow-up. METHODS: A total of 304 HIV-infected men who initiated HAART and who had serum lipid measurements prior to and for up to 7 years after HAART initiation were identified from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Mean levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were examined at biannual time-points. RESULTS: Significant lipid changes were seen within 0.5 years of HAART initiation but increases in TC (+1.09 mmol/L), LDL-C (+0.57 mmol/L), HDL-C (+0.16 mmol/L) and non-HDL-C (+0.91 mmol/L) reached peak levels 2-3 years after HAART initiation. Declines in serum TC, LDL-C and non-HDL-C in subsequent years occurred concurrently with a substantial increase in use of lipid-lowering medications (from 1% usage pre-HAART to 43% 6-7 years after HAART initiation) but the proportion of men who either were treated with cholesterol-lowering medication or had elevated cholesterol levels (>5.18 mmol/L) did not change during the 2-7-year interval after HAART. Mean HDL-C also decreased after 2-3 years and was low (<1.04 mmol/L) in 55% of HIV-infected men 6-7 years after HAART initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Atherogenic serum lipids increased early after the initiation of HAART, peaked at 2-3 years and remained high or required treatment thereafter. Low HDL-C levels persisted in the majority of men. The long-term effects of lipid abnormalities on cardiovascular risk and the effectiveness and toxicity of prolonged use of lipid-lowering medications in combination with HAART are not known.     

我国HIV感染者HAART治疗后IPC水平变化的研究

目的探索我国艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者外周血I型干扰素产生细胞(IPC)水平及高效抗逆转录病毒治疗(HAART)对IPC水平的影响。方法采用以BDCA2、BDCA4及CD4作为IPC特征性表面标志组合的全血染色法,对HIV阴性正常人、未接受HAART治疗的HIV感染者、接受3个月以上HAART治疗的HIV感染者的外周血样品IPC水平进行测定,使用SPSS 11.5 for Windows进行数据分析,比较两组间的差异使用Mann-Whitney Test检验。结果HIV感染者外周血中IPC水平明显低于正常人群;病毒载量(VL)低于检测下限(LDL)的感染者其IPC/CD4水平明显高于病毒载量大于LDL的感染人群;有效的HAART治疗后IPC及CD4的数量增加。结论IPC细胞在HIV感染中明显受损,有效的HAART治疗可以部分恢复IPC水平。     

HIV/AIDS病人合并HCV感染对HAART不良反应的影响

目的研究合并丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染,对艾滋病病毒(HIV)/艾滋病(AIDS)病人接受高效抗反转录病毒治疗(HAART)后,不良反应发生的影响,为HIV/AIDS合并HCV感染的综合治疗提供依据。方法前瞻性观察167例合并HCV感染的HIV/AIDS患者(HIV/HCV组),接受HAART治疗2-5年出现不良反应的类型、频率、严重程度,以同期264例HIV/AIDS患者(HIV组)作为对照组。结果 167例合并HCV感染的HIV/AIDS患者中,163例(97.6%)出现疲乏症状,163例(97.6%)发生胃肠道反应,107例(64.1%)出现肝功能异常,98例(58.7%)出现血脂升高,83例(49.7%)出现药物性皮疹,56例(33.5%)出现腹泻,52例(31.1%)出现贫血。与HIV组相比,HIV/HCV组出现肝功能损害的频率较高(P<0.05),但严重程度无明显差异(P>0.05),其余不良反应发生的类型、频率及严重程度无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论 HIV/AIDS病人在HAART过程中可发生多种不良反应,合并HCV感染时更容易发生肝功能损害,选择HAART方案时应尽量选择肝毒性少的药物。     

Perspectives of middle-aged African-American women in the Deep South on antiretroviral therapy adherence

Despite evidence of stabilization in some areas of the USA, HIV infection in black women is not declining in the Deep South. Using a phenomenological approach to qualitative inquiry, we investigated women's experiences influencing their adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an urban setting. Inclusion criteria specified black women who had been aware of their HIV status for at least two years and were engaged in HIV outpatient care. Twelve single face-to-face confidential in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted from a sample of predominantly middle-aged women retained in care at an HIV clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. Data were analyzed by two independent reviewers and three themes emerged from the group of women's accounts of their experiences. First, sentinel events led to changes in perspective and motivated women to adhere to HAART. Second, recognition that one had the personal strength necessary to cope with HIV fostered adherence. Finally, relationships with healthcare providers especially trust issues surrounding this relationship, impacted adherence both positively and negatively. These findings suggest that HAART adherence is a complex issue among middle-aged urban black women with HIV in the Deep South. Providers caring for this patient population should recognize that sentinel events, personal strength, and positive healthcare relationships are opportunities to improve adherence.     

甘肃省接受HAART的AIDS病人的生活质量测评

目的通过调查接受抗病毒治疗前后艾滋病病人的生活质量,评估抗病毒治疗对艾滋病病人生活质量的影响,为进一步提高病人的生活质量提供参考。方法应用简体中文版MOS-艾滋病病毒（HIV）量表,在定点收治医院抽取艾滋病病人,在其接受抗病毒治疗前后进行调查,内容包括病人的生活质量、人口学特征和与HIV感染相关特征,采用t检验、方差检验等对调查资料进行统计分析。结果共调查病人99例,治疗前其生理领域得分为（49.44±9.85）分,心理领域得分为（24.85±11.17）分;健康转变0.31分、健康压力0.37分、心理功能0.46分、总体健康感0.46分,4个维度得分率较低;治疗后,其生理领域得分为（57.84±3.59）分,心理领域得分为（56.00±5.01）分,11个维度的得分均较治疗前提高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.001）。结论在艾滋病抗病毒治疗过程中,医务人员在给予病人必要的临床治疗的基础上,提供心理咨询和关怀服务,可以改善他们的生活质量,同时亦提示要进一步拓展艾滋病病人医疗服务的内容,将有助于提高病人的生活质量。     

Human papillomavirus in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus: an immune reconstitution‐associated disease?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cutaneous and anogenital disease in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era presents challenging problems for dermatologists. Immune reconstitution-associated diseases (IRADs) are common and important consequences of HAART. Dermatologists should be aware of the cutaneous manifestations of IRAD. The prevalence of clinical human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease is increased in HIV and does not appear to be diminished by HAART. Many patients on HAART are dogged by persistent cutaneous warts. Anogenital precancer is also common in HIV and may be burgeoning with HAART. Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of cervical, penile and vulval/vaginal cancers in treated and untreated patients with HIV. The increase in HPV infection in HIV-infected individuals may be, at least partly, due to increased exposure to diverse HPV types, particularly high-risk types that might be able to persist for longer in anogenital regions. Alternatively, persistent/emergent HPV disease in HIV infection might represent persistent or modulated immunodysregulation after HAART and be viewed as a form of IRAD. The immunopathogenesis of HPV IRAD is fascinating and possibly determined by host genotype.