Impact of antiretroviral protocols on dynamics of AIDS progression markers

Abstract

Aims: To assess the "real life" effectiveness of different antiretroviral therapies (ART). Methods: A retrospective multicentre observational study in 150 HIV-1 vertically infected children on the progression to AIDS (study A), and in 61 HIV-1 infected children on the evolution of the most relevant markers of progression (study B). All children were categorised into four groups: untreated (NT); on monotherapy (MT); on combination therapy (dual-ART); and on potent ART (HAART). Results: No child in the HAART group progressed to AIDS, whereas 14 children in the NT and seven in the MT groups progressed to AIDS, respectively, the differences being statistically significant. There was a mean increase of 8 units of %CD4+ per year; this was greater in the HAART group than in the other groups. The mean decrease in viral load was 0.65 log10 copies/ml per year; this was greater in the HAART group than in the NT and MT groups. The HAART group had the lowest probability of returning to baseline %CD4+ and viral load. Conclusion: Potent ART had the greatest protective effect against progression to AIDS in this observational study.