HCV reinfection incidence and spontaneous clearance rates in HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Western Europe

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Moderate cure rates of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with pegylated interferon and ribavirin have been described in the last decade in men who have sex with men (MSM), who are also coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, a subsequent high incidence of HCV reinfections has been reported regionally in men who both clear the infection spontaneously or who respond to treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of reinfections in HIV infected MSM in eight centers from Austria, France, Germany, and the UK within the NEAT network between May 2002 and June 2014. RESULTS: Of 606 individuals who cleared HCV spontaneously or were successfully treated, 149 (24.6%) presented with a subsequent HCV reinfection. Thirty out of 70 (43%) who cleared again or were successfully treated, presented with a second reinfection, 5 with a third, and one with a fourth reinfection. The reinfection incidence was 7.3/100 person-years (95% CI 6.2-8.6). We found a trend for lower incidence among individuals who had spontaneously cleared their incident infection than among individuals who were treated (Hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-1.02, p=0.06). Spontaneous clearance of reinfection was associated with ALT levels >1000IU/ml and spontaneous clearance of a prior infection. CONCLUSIONS: HCV reinfection is an issue of major concern in HIV-positive MSM. Prevention strategies are needed for high risk groups to reduce morbidity and treatment costs. HIV-positive MSM with a prior HCV infection should be tested every 3 to 6months for reinfection. Those who had achieved a reinfection should be tested every 3months. LAY SUMMARY: We evaluated the occurrence of HCV reinfection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men. We found an alarming incidence of 7.3/100 person-years. Prevention measures need to address this specific subgroup of patients at high risk for HCV

Changes in Cognitive Function Over 96 weeks in Naïve Patients Randomised to Darunavir-ritonavir plus either Raltegravir or Tenofovir-Emtricitabine: a substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial

BACKGROUND: Improvements in cognitive function are described after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), with sparse data on differences between cART strategies. METHODS: We assessed changes in cognition, over 96 weeks, in therapy naïve HIV-positive adults randomised to darunavir/ritonavir (800/100mg once daily) with either raltegravir (400mg twice daily, Arm1) or tenofovir/emtricitabine (245/200mg once daily, Arm2). Seven cognitive tests were administered at baseline and week 96. Changes from baseline in individual cognitive test scores and composite score (NPZ) were assessed. Comparisons between treatment arms were by intention-to-treat and associations with immunological and virological parameters by regression models. FINDINGS: Of 343 subjects enrolled, 208 completed the week 96 cognitive assessment. Baseline median (IQR) CD4+ count and plasma HIV RNA was 348(282-398) cells/uL and 4.7(4.2-5.1) log10 copies/mL, respectively. At week 96, numbers with plasma HIV RNA undetectable and remaining on randomised cART were 85(92%) and 110(96%), and 84(90%) and 107(93%) in Arm1 and Arm2, respectively. Overall, performance significantly improved by week 96 in 5 of 7 individual tests and in NPZ. Mean change in NPZ was 0.28 versus 0.21 for Arm1 and 2, respectively (p=0.37). No statistically significant differences between study treatment arms were observed in individual cognitive domains apart from attention (greater improvement in Arm1, p=0.0499). At week 96, NPZ-score increase was associated with increase in CD4+ (p=0.001) but not HIV RNA area-under-curve (p=0.60). INTERPRETATION: Subsequent to the initiation of cART, immunological recovery rather than type of antiretroviral therapy is the major driver of changes in cognitive function

Ef\ufb01cacy and safety of a switch to unboosted atazanavir in combination with nucleoside analogues in HIV-1-infected patients with virological suppression under antiretroviral therapy

Background: Limited data are available on the use of unboosted atazanavir in combination with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients. Methods: We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study among patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels 50 copies/mL. Baseline risk factors for virological failure were identified using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: A total of 886 patients were analysed. At baseline, median age was 44 years, 71.5% were males and median CD4 cell count was 490 cells/mm(3). NRTIs used in combination with atazanavir were tenofovir, abacavir and emtricitabine/lamivudine in 36.9%, 44.1% and 94.4% of patients, respectively. Median follow-up was 21 months. The 3 year probability of virological failure was 20.1%. Only a history of virological failure under NRTIs [hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, P=0.049] and under protease inhibitors (HR 2.04, P=0.006) were significantly associated with the risk of virological failure. Among the 431 patients without a prior history of virological failure, the 3 year probability of virological failure was 11.3%, and only hepatitis C virus co-infection (HR 2.25, P=0.026) and abacavir use (HR 0.43, P=0.04) were associated with the risk of virological failure. Safety of the switch was satisfactory, with improvement of the lipid profile. Conclusions: In patients with virological suppression and no prior history of virological failure, a switch to unboosted atazanavir in combination with NRTIs is associated with a low probability of virological failure and a good safety profile

Changes in cognitive function over 96 weeks in naive patients randomized to darunavir-ritonavir plus either raltegravir or tenofovir-emtricitabine: A substudy of the NEAT001/ANRS143 trial

Background: Improvements in cognitive function are described after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), with sparse data on differences between cART strategies. Methods: We assessed changes in cognition, over 96 weeks, in therapy-naive HIV-positive adults randomized to darunavir/ ritonavir (800/100 mg once daily) with either raltegravir (400 mg twice daily, Arm1) or tenofovir/emtricitabine (245/200 mg once daily, Arm2). Seven cognitive tests were administered at baseline and week (W) 96. Changes from baseline in individual cognitive test scores and composite score (NPZ) were assessed. Comparisons between treatment arms were by intention to treat and associations with immunological and virological parameters by regression models. Findings: Of 343 subjects enrolled, 208 completed the W96 cognitive assessment. Baseline median (interquartile range) CD4+ count and plasma HIV RNA were 348 (282-398) cells per microliter and 4.7 (4.2-5.1) log10 copies per milliliter, respectively. At W96, numbers with plasma HIV RNA undetectable and remaining on randomized cART were 85 (92%) and 110 (96%), and 84 (90%) and 107 (93%) in Arm1 and Arm2, respectively. Overall performance significantly improved by W96 in 5 of 7 individual tests and in NPZ. Mean changes in NPZ were 0.28 versus 0.21 for Arm1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.37). No statistically significant differences between study treatment arms were observed in individual cognitive domains apart from attention (greater improvement in Arm1, P = 0.0499). At W96, NPZ score increase was associated with increase in CD4+ (P = 0.001) but not HIV RNA area under curve (P = 0.60). Interpretation: Subsequent to the initiation of cART, immunological recovery rather than type of antiretroviral therapy is the major driver of changes in cognitive function.SCOPUS: cp.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Correlation between blood telomere length and CD4+ CD8+ T-cell subsets changes 96 weeks after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-positive individuals

In 31 participants who started first-line antiretroviral therapy in the NEAT 001/ANRS 143 clinical trial, we found after 96 weeks a statistically significant increase in blood telomere length (TL) of 0.04 (T/S Ratio) (p = 0.03). This increase was positively correlated with both the change in the percentage of CD4+ T-cells and with the decrease of CD38+ molecules on Central Memory CD8+ and negatively correlated with the change in the percentage of CD4+ Effector Memory cells. Increase in TL could be an expression of immune reconstitution and the associated decrease in immune activation. We acknowledge for the low statistical power due to the small sample size and the potential for false positive results due to multiple testing. Hence, further studies are needed to confirm these observations

Incidence of hypertension and blood pressure changes in persons with HIV at high risk for cardiovascular disease switching from boosted protease inhibitors to dolutegravir: a post-hoc analysis of the 96-week randomised NEAT-022 trial.

BackgroundIntegrase inhibitors have been recently linked to a higher risk for hypertension. In NEAT022 randomized trial, virologically suppressed persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) with high cardiovascular risk switched from protease inhibitors to dolutegravir either immediately (DTG-I) or after 48 weeks (DTG-D).MethodsPrimary endpoint was incident hypertension at 48 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure; adverse events and discontinuations associated with high blood pressure; and factors associated with incident hypertension.ResultsAt baseline, 191 (46.4%) participants had hypertension and 24 persons without hypertension were receiving antihypertensive medications for other reasons. In the 197 PWH (n = 98, DTG-I arm; n = 99, DTG-D arm) without hypertension or antihypertensive agents at baseline, incidence rates per 100 person-years were 40.3 and 36.3 (DTG-I) and 34.7 and 52.0 (DTG-D) at 48 (P = .5755) and 96 (P = .2347) weeks. SBP or DBP changes did not differed between arms. DBP (mean, 95% confidence interval) significantly increased in both DTG-I (+2.78 mmHg [1.07–4.50], P = .0016) and DTG-D (+2.29 mmHg [0.35–4.23], P = .0211) arms in the first 48 weeks of exposure to dolutegravir. Four (3 under dolutegravir, 1 under protease inhibitors) participants discontinued study drugs due to adverse events associated with high blood pressure. Classical factors, but not treatment arm, were independently associated with incident hypertension.ConclusionsPWH at high risk for cardiovascular disease showed high rates of hypertension at baseline and after 96 weeks. Switching to dolutegravir did not negatively impact on the incidence of hypertension or blood pressure changes relative to continuing protease inhibitors.</p

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr

Background: There are few data comparing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in randomized trials of initial antiretroviral therapy. We present results from a substudy of the NEAT001/ ANRS143 trial. Methods: The randomized trial compared first-line DRV/r 800/100 mg once daily plus RAL 400 mg twice daily and DRV/r plus TDF/ FTC 245/200 mg once daily. Changes in PROs were assessed with 3 questionnaires: EuroQoL 5 domains (EQ-5D), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, and HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was defined as CES-D $16. General estimating equations were used to model change over 96 weeks in PROs from baseline. Results: Of the 805 participants, 797 (99$ 0.05 for all domains over follow-up). There was no significant difference between groups on CES-D [difference of 20.1 (95% CI: 21.3 to 1.1); P = 0.9], or MDD during follow-up, adjusted for baseline MDD (odds ratio = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.18; P = 0.9). RAL + DRV/r group had lower level of convenience (P = 0.03) and fitted less well into patients' lifestyle (P = 0.007) than the TDF/FTC + DRV/r regimen, and was associated with lower treatment satisfaction [median score: 53 RAL + DRV/r vs 55 TDF/FTC + DRV/r (P = 0.001)]. Conclusion: PROs improved after starting antiretroviral therapy, with no statistically significant difference between groups. The lower satisfaction with RAL + DRV/r may be explained by twicedaily administration

Host and disease factors are associated with cognitive function in European HIV-infected adults prior to initiation of antiretroviral therapy

Deficits in cognitive function remain prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this European multicentre study was to assess factors associated with cognitive function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-infected subjects at the time of enrolment in the NEAT 001/Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA (ANRS) 143 study. Prior to starting ART, seven cognitive tests exploring domains including episodic memory, verbal fluency, executive function and psychomotor speed were administered with scores standardized to z-score using the study population sample mean and standard deviation. The primary measure was overall z-score average (NPZ). We assessed associations between baseline factors and test results using multivariable regression models. Of 283 subjects with baseline cognitive assessments, 90% were male and 12% of black ethnicity. Median (interquartile range) age, years of education, years of known HIV infection, baseline CD4 count and baseline HIV RNA were 39 (31, 47) years, 13 (11, 17) years, 1 (0, 4) years, 344 (279, 410) cells/μL and 4.74 (4.28, 5.14) log10 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, respectively. Forty per cent were current smokers. Factors significantly associated with poorer overall cognitive performance in multivariable models included older age, shorter duration of education, black ethnicity, lower height, and lower plasma HIV RNA. In this large, European-wide, ART-naïve population with relatively preserved immunity and early HIV infection, cognitive function scores at the time of ART initiation were associated with demographic and HIV-disease factor

Host and disease factors are associated with cognitive function in European HIV-infected adults prior to initiation of antiretroviral therapy

Objectives: Deficits in cognitive function remain prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this European multicentre study was to assess factors associated with cognitive function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-infected subjects at the time of enrolment in the NEAT 001/Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA (ANRS) 143 study. Methods: Prior to starting ART, seven cognitive tests exploring domains including episodic memory, verbal fluency, executive function and psychomotor speed were administered with scores standardized to z-score using the study population sample mean and standard deviation. The primary measure was overall z-score average (NPZ). We assessed associations between baseline factors and test results using multivariable regression models. Results: Of 283 subjects with baseline cognitive assessments, 90% were male and 12% of black ethnicity. Median (interquartile range) age, years of education, years of known HIV infection, baseline CD4 count and baseline HIV RNA were 39 (31, 47) years, 13 (11, 17) years, 1 (0, 4) years, 344 (279, 410) cells/L and 4.74 (4.28, 5.14) log(10) HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, respectively. Forty per cent were current smokers. Factors significantly associated with poorer overall cognitive performance in multivariable models included older age, shorter duration of education, black ethnicity, lower height, and lower plasma HIV RNA. Conclusions: In this large, European-wide, ART-naive population with relatively preserved immunity and early HIV infection, cognitive function scores at the time of ART initiation were associated with demographic and HIV-disease factors