Guan-Jhou Chen1, Hsin-Yun Sun1, Sui-Yuan Chang2, Aristine Cheng1, Yu-Shan Huang1, Sung-Hsi Huang3, Yi-Chia Huang4, Yi-Ching Su1, Wen-Chun Liu1, Chien-Ching Hung5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan; Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Biomedical Park Branch, Hsin-Chu County, Taiwan. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: hcc0401@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The impact of very low-level viremia (VLLV) and low-level viremia (LLV) are rarely investigated among people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving dolutegravir- vs protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Virally suppressed PLWH receiving long-term PI-containing ART were included in this study. The incidences of developing VLLV (plasma HIV RNA load (PVL) 20-49 copies/ml), LLV (PVL 50-999 copies/ml), and virological failure (any PVL ≥ 1000 copies/ml) were compared between those switched to dolutegravir-based ART and those remaining on PI-containing ART. RESULTS: A total of 183 PLWH were switched to dolutegravir-based regimens and 309 remained on PI-containing regimens. The incidences of VLLV and LLV were 26.5 and 13.2 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the dolutegravir group, respectively, and 17.1 and 7.0 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the PI group; there were no statistically significant differences after adjusting for confounders. The rate of virological failure was 1.3 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the dolutegravir group and 1.9 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the PI group (p = 0.32). Neither VLLV nor LLV was related to subsequent virological failure. CONCLUSIONS: Among virally suppressed PLWH, the risk of developing VLLV or LLV were similar between those switched to dolutegravir-based therapy and those who continued PI-based therapy. VLLV and LLV were not associated with subsequent virological failure.
OBJECTIVES: The impact of very low-level viremia (VLLV) and low-level viremia (LLV) are rarely investigated among people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving dolutegravir- vs protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Virally suppressed PLWH receiving long-term PI-containing ART were included in this study. The incidences of developing VLLV (plasma HIV RNA load (PVL) 20-49 copies/ml), LLV (PVL 50-999 copies/ml), and virological failure (any PVL ≥ 1000 copies/ml) were compared between those switched to dolutegravir-based ART and those remaining on PI-containing ART. RESULTS: A total of 183 PLWH were switched to dolutegravir-based regimens and 309 remained on PI-containing regimens. The incidences of VLLV and LLV were 26.5 and 13.2 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the dolutegravir group, respectively, and 17.1 and 7.0 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the PI group; there were no statistically significant differences after adjusting for confounders. The rate of virological failure was 1.3 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the dolutegravir group and 1.9 per 100 person-years of follow-up in the PI group (p = 0.32). Neither VLLV nor LLV was related to subsequent virological failure. CONCLUSIONS: Among virally suppressed PLWH, the risk of developing VLLV or LLV were similar between those switched to dolutegravir-based therapy and those who continued PI-based therapy. VLLV and LLV were not associated with subsequent virological failure.