Virological Suppression Achieved with Suboptimal Adherence Levels among South African Children Receiving Boosted Protease Inhibitor—Based Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

Sixty-six children who were receiving antiretroviral treatment were assessed for treatment adherence and virological outcome to compare boosted protease inhibitor–based regimens with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor– based regimens. Children who were receiving protease inhibitor–based regimens demonstrated higher rates of virological suppression, even with poor treatment adherence (!80%). In children, boosted protease inhibitors seem to be more forgiving of poor adherence than do nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors.