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Background Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) failure is a major threat to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programs, with implications for individual- and population-level outcomes. Adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection (PHIVA) should be a focus for treatment failure given their poorer outcomes compared to children and adults. Methods Data (2014–2018) from a regional cohort of Asian PHIVA who received at least 6 months of continuous cART were analyzed. Treatment failure was defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Descriptive analyses were used to report treatment failure and subsequent management and evaluate postfailure CD4 count and viral load trends. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to compare the cumulative incidence of death and loss to follow-up (LTFU) by treatment failure status. Results A total 3196 PHIVA were included in the analysis with a median follow-up period of 3.0 years, of whom 230 (7.2%) had experienced 292 treatment failure events (161 virologic, 128 immunologic, 11 clinical) at a rate of 3.78 per 100 person-years. Of the 292 treatment failure events, 31 (10.6%) had a subsequent cART switch within 6 months, which resulted in better immunologic and virologic outcomes compared to those who did not switch cART. The 5-year cumulative incidence of death and LTFU following treatment failure was 18.5% compared to 10.1% without treatment failure. Conclusions Improved implementation of virologic monitoring is required to realize the benefits of virologic determination of cART failure. There is a need to address issues related to accessibility to subsequent cART regimens, poor adherence limiting scope to switch regimens, and the role of antiretroviral resistance testing.

OBJECTIVE: To implement a standardized cause of death reporting and review process to systematically disaggregate causes of HIV-related deaths in a cohort of Asian children and adolescents. DESIGN: Death-related data were retrospectively and prospectively assessed in a longitudinal regional cohort study. METHODS: Children under routine HIV care at sites in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam between 2008 and 2017 were followed. Causes of death were reported and then independently and centrally reviewed. Predictors were compared using competing risks survival regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 5918 children, 5523 (93%; 52% male) had ever been on combination antiretroviral therapy. Of 371 (6.3%) deaths, 312 (84%) occurred in those with a history of combination antiretroviral therapy (crude all-cause mortality 9.6 per 1000 person-years; total follow-up time 32 361 person-years). In this group, median age at death was 7.0 (2.9–13) years; median CD4(+) cell count was 73 (16–325) cells/μl. The most common underlying causes of death were pneumonia due to unspecified pathogens (17%), tuberculosis (16%), sepsis (8.0%), and AIDS (6.7%); 12% of causes were unknown. These clinical diagnoses were further grouped into AIDS-related infections (22%) and noninfections (5.8%), and non-AIDS-related infections (47%) and noninfections (11%); with 12% unknown, 2.2% not reviewed. Higher CD4(þ) cell count and better weight-for-age z-score were protective against death. CONCLUSION: Our standardized cause of death assessment provides robust data to inform regional resource allocation for pediatric diagnostic evaluations and prioritization of clinical interventions, and highlight the continued importance of opportunistic and nonopportunistic infections as causes of death in our cohort.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial pneumonia imparts a major morbidity and mortality burden on children living with HIV, yet effective prevention and treatment options are underutilized. We explored clinical factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia among children living with HIV. METHODS: Children enrolled in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database were included if they started antiretroviral therapy (ART) on or after January 1st, 2008. Factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were assessed using competing-risk regression. RESULTS: A total of 3,944 children were included in the analysis; 136 cases of severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were reported at a rate of 6.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.5–7.7] events per 1,000 patient-years. Clinical factors associated with severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia were younger age [adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (aHR): 4.4 for −2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, P = 0.024), pre-ART diagnosis of severe recurrent bacterial pneumonia (aHR: 4.0 versus no pre-ART diagnosis, 95% CI: 2.7–5.8, P < 0.001), past diagnosis of symptomatic lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis or chronic HIV-associated lung disease, including bronchiectasis (aHR: 4.8 versus no past diagnosis, 95% CI: 2.8–8.4, P < 0.001), low CD4% (aHR: 3.5 for

Perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) are an expanding population vulnerable to loss to follow-up (LTFU). Understanding the epidemiology and factors for LTFU is complicated by varying LTFU definitions.Asian regional cohort incorporating 16 pediatric HIV services across 6 countries.Data from PHIVA (aged 10-19 years) who received combination antiretroviral therapy 2007-2016 were used to analyze LTFU through (1) an International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) method that determined LTFU as90 days late for an estimated next scheduled appointment without returning to care and (2) the absence of patient-level data for365 days before the last data transfer from clinic sites. Descriptive analyses and competing-risk survival and regression analyses were used to evaluate LTFU epidemiology and associated factors when analyzed using each method.Of 3509 included PHIVA, 275 (7.8%) met IeDEA and 149 (4.3%) met 365-day absence LTFU criteria. Cumulative incidence of LTFU was 19.9% and 11.8% using IeDEA and 365-day absence criteria, respectively. Risk factors for LTFU across both criteria included the following: age at combination antiretroviral therapy initiation5 years compared with age ≥5 years, rural clinic settings compared with urban clinic settings, and high viral loads compared with undetectable viral loads. Age 10-14 years compared with age 15-19 years was another risk factor identified using 365-day absence criteria but not IeDEA LTFU criteria.Between 12% and 20% of PHIVA were determined LTFU with treatment fatigue and rural treatment settings consistent risk factors. Better tracking of adolescents is required to provide a definitive understanding of LTFU and optimize evidence-based models of care.

Background Encephalitis is a worldwide public health issue, with a substantially high burden among children in southeast Asia. We aimed to determine the causes of encephalitis in children admitted to hospitals across the Greater Mekong region by implementing a comprehensive state-of-the-art diagnostic procedure harmonised across all centres, and identifying clinical characteristics related to patients’ conditions. Methods In this multicentre, observational, prospective study of childhood encephalitis, four referral hospitals in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar recruited children (aged 28 days to 16 years) who presented with altered mental status lasting more than 24 h and two of the following minor criteria: fever (within the 72 h before or after presentation), one or more generalised or partial seizures (excluding febrile seizures), a new-onset focal neurological deficit, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell count of 5 per mL or higher, or brain imaging (CT or MRI) suggestive of lesions of encephalitis. Comprehensive diagnostic procedures were harmonised across all centres, with first-line testing was done on samples taken at inclusion and results delivered within 24 h of inclusion for main treatable causes of disease and second-line testing was done thereafter for mostly non-treatable causes. An independent expert medical panel reviewed the charts and attribution of causes of all the included children. Using multivariate analyses, we assessed risk factors associated with unfavourable outcomes (ie, severe neurological sequelae and death) at discharge using data from baseline and day 2 after inclusion. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04089436, and is now complete. Findings Between July 28, 2014, and Dec 31, 2017, 664 children with encephalitis were enrolled. Median age was 4·3 years (1·8–8·8), 295 (44%) children were female, and 369 (56%) were male. A confirmed or probable cause of encephalitis was identified in 425 (64%) patients: 216 (33%) of 664 cases were due to Japanese encephalitis virus, 27 (4%) were due to dengue virus, 26 (4%) were due to influenza virus, 24 (4%) were due to herpes simplex virus 1, 18 (3%) were due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 17 (3%) were due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, 17 (3%) were due to enterovirus A71, 74 (9%) were due to other pathogens, and six (1%) were due to autoimmune encephalitis. Diagnosis was made within 24 h of admission to hospital for 83 (13%) of 664 children. 119 (18%) children had treatable conditions and 276 (42%) had conditions that could have been preventable by vaccination. At time of discharge, 153 (23%) of 664 children had severe neurological sequelae and 83 (13%) had died. In multivariate analyses, risk factors for unfavourable outcome were diagnosis of M tuberculosis infection upon admission (odds ratio 3·23 [95% CI 1·04–10·03]), coma on day 2 (2·90 [1·78–4·72]), supplementary oxygen requirement (1·89 [1·25–2·86]), and more than 1 week duration between symptom onset and admission to hospital (3·03 [1·68–5·48]). At 1 year after inclusion, of 432 children who were discharged alive from hospital with follow-up data, 24 (5%) had died, 129 (30%) had neurological sequelae, and 279 (65%) had completely recovered. Interpretation In southeast Asia, most causes of childhood encephalitis are either preventable or treatable, with Japanese encephalitis virus being the most common cause. We provide crucial information that could guide public health policy to improve diagnostic, vaccination, and early therapeutic guidelines on childhood encephalitis in the Greater Mekong region. Funding Institut Pasteur, Institut Pasteur International Network, Fondation Merieux, Aviesan Sud, INSERM, Wellcome Trust, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), and Fondation Total. Translations For the Khmer, Lao, Vietnamese and Burmese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Of 56 children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had been prescribed second-line protease inhibitor–based antiretroviral therapy and had ≥1 previous episode of viral failure (HIV RNA, ≥1000 copies/mL), 46% had ≥1, 34% had ≥2, and 23% had ≥3 consecutive episodes of viral failure during the 2 years of follow-up. Two of these children experienced a major protease inhibitor mutation.

Enterovirus-A71 (EV-A71) is a common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) and, rarely, causes severe neurological disease. This study aimed to elucidate the epidemiological and genetic characteristics and virulence of EV-A71 strains isolated from children diagnosed with HFMD. Rectal and throat swabs were collected from 488 children with HFMD in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2015–2016. From 391 EV-positive patients, 15 EVs, including coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6; 47.1%) and EV-A71 (32.5%, n = 127), were identified. Of the 127 EV-A71 strains, 117 (92.1%) were the B5 subgenotype and 10 (7.9%) were the C4 subgenotype. A whole-genome analysis of EV-A71 strains showed that seven of the eight C4a strains isolated in 2016 formed a new lineage, including two possible recombinants between EV-A71 C4 and CV-A8. The proportion of inpatients among C4-infected children was higher than among B5-infected children (80.0% vs. 27.4%; P = 0.002). The virulence of EV-A71 strains was examined in human scavenger receptor class B2 (hSCARB2)-transgenic mice, and EV-A71 C4 strains exhibited higher mortality than B5 strains (80.0% vs. 30.0%, P = 0.0001). Thus, a new EV-A71 C4a-lineage, including two possible recombinants between EV-A71 C4 and CV-A8, appeared in 2016 in Vietnam. The EV-A71 C4 subgenotype may be more virulent than the B5 subgenotype.

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVAs), factors associated with mortality, and outcomes at transition. Design Ongoing observational database collating clinical data on HIV-infected children and adolescents in Asia. Methods Data from 2001 to 2016 relating to adolescents (10-19 years) with perinatal HIV infection were analysed to describe characteristics at adolescent entry and transition and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens across adolescence. A competing risk regression analysis was used to determine characteristics at adolescent entry associated with mortality. Outcomes at transition were compared on the basis of age at cART initiation. Results Of 3448 PHIVA, 644 had reached transition. Median age at HIV diagnosis was 5.5 years, cART initiation 7.2 years and transition 17.9 years. At adolescent entry, 35.0% had CD4+ cell count less than 500 cells/μl and 51.1% had experienced a WHO stage III/IV clinical event. At transition, 38.9% had CD4+ cell count less than 500 copies/ml, and 53.4% had experienced a WHO stage III/IV clinical event. Mortality rate was 0.71 per 100 person-years, with HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/ml, CD4+ cell count less than 500 cells/μl, height-for-age or weight-for-age z-score less than -2, history of a WHO stage III/IV clinical event or hospitalization and at least second cART associated with mortality. For transitioning PHIVA, those who commenced cART age less than 5 years had better virologic and immunologic outcomes, though were more likely to be on at least second cART. Conclusion Delayed HIV diagnosis and cART initiation resulted in considerable morbidity and poor immune status by adolescent entry. Durable first-line cART regimens to optimize disease control are key to minimizing mortality. Early cART initiation provides the best virologic and immunologic outcomes at transition.

We studied behavioral risks among HIV-infected and uninfected adolescents using an audio computer-assisted self-interview. A prospective cohort study was initiated between 2013 and 2014 in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. HIV-infected adolescents were matched to uninfected adolescents (4:1) by sex and age group (12-14 and 15-18 years). We enrolled 250 HIV-infected (48% male; median age 14.5 years; 93% perinatally infected) and 59 uninfected (51% male; median age 14.1 years) adolescents. At enrollment, HIV-infected adolescents were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a median (IQR) of 7.5 (4.7-10.2) years, and 14% had HIV-RNA >1000 copies/mL; 19% reported adherence 1000 copies/mL. Risk behaviors were common among adolescents, with few differences between those with and without HIV

Objective We investigated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) on the gut microbiota of children. Design This cross-sectional study investigated the gut microbiota of children with and without HIV. Methods We collected fecal samples from 59 children with HIV (29 treated with ART [ART(+)] and 30 without ART [HIV(+)]) and 20 children without HIV [HIV(–)] in Vietnam. We performed quantitative RT-PCR to detect 14 representative intestinal bacteria targeting 16S/23S rRNA molecules. We also collected the blood samples for immunological analyses. Results In spearman’s correlation analyses, no significant correlation between the number of dominant bacteria and age was found among children in the HIV(−) group. However, the number of sub-dominant bacteria, including Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacteriaceae, positively correlated with age in the HIV(−) group, but not in the HIV(+) group. In the HIV(+) group, Clostridium coccoides group positively associated with the CD4+ cell count and its subsets. In the ART(+) group, Staphylococcus and C. perfringens positively correlated with CD4+ cells and their subsets and negatively with activated CD8+ cells. C. coccoides group and Bacteroides fragilis group were associated with regulatory T-cell counts. In multiple linear regression analyses, ART duration was independently associated with the number of C. perfringens, and Th17 cell count with the number of Staphylococcus in the ART(+) group. Conclusions HIV infection and ART may influence sub-dominant gut bacteria, directly or indirectly, in association with immune status in children with HIV.

PURPOSE: Antiretroviral monotherapy and treatment interruption are potential strategies for perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) who face challenges maintaining effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the use and outcomes for adolescents receiving monotherapy or undergoing treatment interruption in a regional Asian cohort. METHODS: Regional Asian data (2001–2016) were analyzed to describe PHIVA who experienced ≥2 weeks of lamivudine or emtricitabine monotherapy or treatment interruption and trends in CD4 count and HIV viral load during and after episodes. Survival analyses were used for World Health Organization (WHO) stage III/IV clinical and immunologic event-free survival during monotherapy or treatment interruption, and a Poisson regression to determine factors associated with monotherapy or treatment interruption. RESULTS: Of 3,448 PHIVA, 84 (2.4%) experienced 94 monotherapy episodes, and 147 (4.3%) experienced 174 treatment interruptions. Monotherapy was associated with older age, HIV RNA >400 copies/mL, younger age at ART initiation, and exposure to ≥2 combination ART regimens. Treatment interruption was associated with CD4 count

Virologic failure is a major threat to maintaining effective combination antiretroviral therapy, especially for children in need of lifelong treatment. With efforts to expand access to HIV viral load testing, our understanding of pediatric virologic failure is evolving.An Asian cohort in 16 pediatric HIV services across 6 countries.From 2005 to 2014, patients younger than 20 years who achieved virologic suppression and had subsequent viral load testing were included. Early virologic failure was defined as a HIV RNA ≥1000 copies per milliliter within 12 months of virologic suppression, and late virologic as a HIV RNA ≥1000 copies per milliliter after 12 months following virologic suppression. Characteristics at combination antiretroviral therapy initiation and virologic suppression were described, and a competing risk time-to-event analysis was used to determine cumulative incidence of virologic failure and factors at virologic suppression associated with early and late virologic failure.Of 1105 included in the analysis, 182 (17.9%) experienced virologic failure. The median age at virologic suppression was 6.9 years, and the median time to virologic failure was 24.6 months after virologic suppression. The incidence rate for a first virologic failure event was 3.3 per 100 person-years. Factors at virologic suppression associated with late virologic failure included older age, mostly rural clinic setting, tuberculosis, protease inhibitor-based regimens, and early virologic failure. No risk factors were identified for early virologic failure.Around 1 in 5 experienced virologic failure in our cohort after achieving virologic suppression. Targeted interventions to manage complex treatment scenarios, including adolescents, tuberculosis coinfection, and those with poor virologic control are required.

Introduction Recommendations on the optimal frequency of plasma viral load (pVL) monitoring in children living with HIV (CLWH) who are stable on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are inconsistent. This study aimed to determine the impact of annual versus semi‐annual pVL monitoring on treatment outcomes in Asian CLWH. Methods Data on children with perinatally acquired HIV aged 1.5 tests/patient/year. Treatment failure was defined as virologic failure (two consecutive pVL >1000 copies/mL), change of antiretroviral drug class, or death. Baseline was the date of the second consecutive pVL

Data on pediatric treatment outcomes and drug resistance while on second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) are needed to guide HIV care in resource-limited countries. HIV-infected children 1000 copies/mL). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate factors predicting VF. Of 277 children, 41% were female. At second-line switch, age was 7.5 (5.3-10.3) years, CD4 count was 300 (146-562) cells per cubic millimeter, and percentage was 13 (7-20%); HIV-RNA was 5.0 (4.4-5.5) log10 copies per milliliter. Second-line regimens contained lamivudine (90%), tenofovir (43%), zidovudine or abacavir (30%), lopinavir (LPV/r; 91%), and atazanavir (ATV; 7%). After 3.3 (1.8-5.3) years on second-line ART, CD4 was 763 (556-1060) cells per cubic millimeter and 26% (20-31%). VF occurred in 73 (27%), with an incidence of 7.25 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.77 to 9.12). Resistance mutations in 50 of 73 children with available genotyping at first VF included M184V (56%), ≥1 thymidine analogue mutation (TAM; 40%), ≥4 TAMs (10%), Q151M (4%), any major LPV mutation (8%), ≥6 LPV mutations (2%), and any major ATV mutation (4%). Associations with VF included age >11 years (hazard ratio [HR] 4.06; 95% CI: 2.15 to 7.66) and HIV-RNA >5.0 log10 copies per milliliter (HR 2.42; 95% CI: 1.27 to 4.59) at switch and were seen more commonly in children from Vietnam (HR 2.79; 95% CI: 1.55 to 5.02). One-fourth of children developed VF while on second-line ART. However, few developed major mutations to protease inhibitors

Purpose About a third of untreated, perinatally HIV-infected children reach adolescence. We evaluated the durability and effectiveness of non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)–based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in this population. Methods Data from perinatally HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive patients initiated on NNRTI-based ART aged 10–19 years who had ≥6 months of follow-up were analyzed. Competing risk regression was used to assess predictors of NNRTI substitution and clinical failure (World Health Organization Stage 3/4 event or death). Viral suppression was defined as a viral load Results Data from 534 adolescents met our inclusion criteria (56.2% female; median age at treatment initiation 11.8 years). After 5 years of treatment, median height-for-age z score increased from −2.3 to −1.6, and median CD4+ cell count increased from 131 to 580 cells/mm 3 . The proportion of patients with viral suppression after 6 months was 87.6% and remained >80% up to 5 years of follow-up. NNRTI substitution and clinical failure occurred at rates of 4.9 and 1.4 events per 100 patient-years, respectively. Not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at ART initiation was associated with NNRTI substitution (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5 vs. using; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–2.2; p = .05). Baseline CD4+ count ≤200 cells/mm 3 (HR, 3.3 vs. >200; 95% CI = 1.2–8.9; p = .02) and not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at ART initiation (HR, 2.1 vs. using; 95% CI = 1.0–4.6; p = .05) were both associated with clinical failure. Conclusions Despite late ART initiation, adolescents achieved good rates of catch-up growth, CD4+ count recovery, and virological suppression. Earlier ART initiation and routine cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in this population may help to reduce current rates of NNRTI substitution and clinical failure.

We analyzed final height of 273 perinatally HIV-infected Asian adolescents older than 18 years at their last clinic visit. By the World Health Organization child growth reference, 30% were stunted, but by the Thai child growth reference, 19% were stunted. Half of those who were stunted at antiretroviral therapy initiation remained stunted over time. Being male and having a low baseline height-for-age Z score of less than -1.0 were associated with low final height Z score.

BACKGROUND: Perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) are exposed to a chronic systemic infection and long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART), leaving them susceptible to morbidities associated with inflammation, immunodeficiency, and drug toxicity. METHODS: Data collected 2001–2016 from PHIVA aged 10–19 years within a regional Asian cohort were analysed using competing risk time-to-event and Poisson regression analyses to describe the nature and incidence of morbidity events and hospitalisations, and identify factors associated with disease-related, treatment-related, and overall morbidity. Morbidity was defined according to WHO clinical staging criteria and US National Institutes of Health Division of AIDS criteria. RESULTS: A total 3,448 PHIVA contributed 17,778 person-years. Median age at HIV diagnosis was 5.5 years and ART initiation was 6.9 years. There were 2,562 morbidity events and 307 hospitalisations. Cumulative incidence for any morbidity was 51.7% and hospitalisation was 10.0%. Early adolescence was dominated by disease-related infectious morbidity, with a trend toward non-infectious and treatment-related morbidity in later adolescence. Higher overall morbidity rates were associated with a CD4 count

We conducted a prospective monitoring study to determine whether antiretroviral (ARV) levels in hair of Asian children on second-line protease inhibitor-based ARV therapy (ART) are associated with virologic failure (VF), compared to plasma drug levels and self-reported adherence. HIV-infected Asian children on second-line ART regimens were enrolled into a longitudinal cohort. Traditional adherence measures, plasma, and hair samples were collected 24 weeks after study enrollment. Hair ARV levels were determined via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Among 149 children on lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimens, 47% were female; the median [interquartile range (IQR)] age was 10.3 (7.9-13.3) years. The median CD4% was 26% (IQR 21.7-32.1%) and the median CD4 cell count 754 (IQR 596-1,013) cells/mm(3). The median duration of lopinavir-based ART prior to week 24 of the study was 2.9 (IQR 1.6-4.2) years. Adherence was >95% in 91% (135/148) by visual analogue scale and 89% (129/145) by pill count. The median lopinavir hair concentrations were 5.43 (IQR 3.21-9.01) ng/mg in children with HIV RNA >1,000 copies/ml and 9.96 (IQR 6.51-12.31) ng/mg in children with HIV RNA

We sought to assess the impact of routine HIV viral load (VL) monitoring on the incidence of switching from a first- to a second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen, and to describe factors associated with switch. Data from a regional cohort of 16 clinical programs in six Asian countries were analyzed. Second-line switch was defined as a change from a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) to a protease inhibitor (PI) or vice versa, and ≥1 of the following: (1) reported treatment failure by local criteria, (2) switch of ≥1 additional drug, or (3) a preceding HIV VL ≥1,000 copies/ml. Routine VL was having ≥1 test after ≥24 weeks of ART and ≥1 time/year thereafter. Factors associated with time to switch were evaluated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. A total of 2,398 children were included in this analysis. At ART initiation, the median (interquartile range) age was 6.0 (3.3–8.9) years, more than half had WHO stage 3 or 4, the median CD4 was 189 (47–456) cells/mm3, 93% were on NNRTI-based first-line ART, and 34% had routine VL monitoring. Treatment switch occurred in 17.6% of patients, at a median of 35 (22–49) months. After adjusting for country, sex, first ART regimen, and CD4% at ART initiation, children with routine VL monitoring were 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.11–1.93) times more likely to be switched (p = .007). Scale-up of VL testing will lead to earlier identification of treatment failure, and it can help guide earlier switches to prevent resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the value of time-updated weight and height in predicting clinical progression, and immunological and virological failure in children receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods: We used Cox regression to analyze data of a cohort of Asian children. Results: A total of 2608 children were included; median age at cART was 5.7 years. Time-updated weight for age z score, 23 was associated with mortality (P < 0.001) independent of CD4% and < -2 was associated with immunological failure (P

Failure rates of second-line boosted protease inhibitor antiretroviral therapy regimens in children rise over time. Therapeutic drug monitoring can contribute to assessments of adherence. The authors assessed the performance characteristics of the US DHHS-recommended lopinavir (LPV) concentration of 1.0 mg/L for predicting virologic failure (VF) and intermediate- to high-level LPV resistance in Asian children.LPV concentration, HIV RNA level, and adherence data from study participants in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia receiving second-line LPV-based ART and followed for ≥24 weeks were analyzed.A total of 223 children at a median age of 10.4 (interquartile range, 7.9-13.4) years were enrolled, and 61% of them were male. Their mean CD4 was 842 ± 438 cells per cubic millimeter, and the median LPV duration was 2.5 (interquartile range, 1.3-4.2) years. Five of 84 (6%) and 18 of 139 (13%) children had LPV trough and random concentrations1.0 mg/L at study week 24. Using either of these trough or random LPV concentrations, a cutoff at 1.0 mg/L gave an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.69 in predicting VF with sensitivity of 44% (95% CI 23-66) and specificity of 94% (95% CI 89-97). Seven of 21 with VF and resistance results available had ≥1 major protease inhibitor mutation. Multivariate logistic regression found LPV concentrations1.0 mg/L (odds ratio, 6.47; 95% CI 2.15-19.50, P = 0.001) and CD4 ≤20% (odds ratio, 2.83; 95% CI 1.01-7.89, P = 0.05) were independently associated with HIV RNA1000 copies per milliliter. No factors predicted major LPV resistance mutations.The authors support that the DHHS target LPV concentration of1.0 mg/L is predictive of VF, but not of the presence of major LPV mutations.

Purpose To assess the incidence and predictors of postsuppression virologic rebound (VR) among adolescents on stable combination antiretroviral therapy in Asia. Methods Perinatally HIV-infected Asian adolescents (10–19 years) with documented virologic suppression (two consecutive viral loads [VLs] 1,000 copies/mL). Results Of 1,379 eligible adolescents, 47% were males. At baseline, 22% were receiving protease inhibitor–containing regimens; median CD4 cell count (interquartile range [IQR]) was 685 (448–937) cells/mm 3 ; 2% had preadolescent virologic failure (VF) before subsequent suppression. During adolescence, 180 individuals (13%) experienced postsuppression VR at a rate of 3.4 (95% confidence interval: 2.9–3.9) per 100 person-years, which was consistent over time. Median time to VR during adolescence (IQR) was 3.3 (2.1–4.8) years. Wasting (weight-for-age z-score 3 , and 4.1 (3.5–4.7) log 10 copies/mL, respectively. Conclusions A modest and consistent incidence of postsuppression VR was documented during adolescence in our cohort. Having poor weight, receiving second-line regimens, and prior VF were associated with an increased VR rate. Adolescents at higher risk of VR may benefit from more intensive VL monitoring to enhance adherence management.

Information on antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in HIV-infected children with severe malnutrition (SM) is lacking. We investigated long-term ART outcomes in this population.Children enrolled in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database who had SM (weight-for-height or body mass index-for-age Z score less than -3) at ART initiation were analyzed. Generalized estimating equations were used to investigate poor weight recovery (weight-for-age Z score less than -3) and poor CD4% recovery (CD4%25), and competing risk regression was used to analyze mortality and toxicity-associated treatment modification.Three hundred fifty-five (11.9%) of 2993 children starting ART had SM. Their median weight-for-age Z score increased from -5.6 at ART initiation to -2.3 after 36 months. Not using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis at baseline was associated with poor weight recovery [odds ratio: 2.49 vs. using; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-3.74; P0.001]. Median CD4% increased from 3.0 at ART initiation to 27.2 after 36 months, and 56 (15.3%) children died during follow-up. More profound SM was associated with poor CD4% recovery (odds ratio: 1.78 for Z score less than -4.5 vs. -3.5 to less than -3.0; 95% CI: 1.08-2.92; P = 0.023) and mortality (hazard ratio: 2.57 for Z score less than -4.5 vs. -3.5 to less than -3.0; 95% CI: 1.24-5.33; P = 0.011). Twenty-two toxicity-associated ART modifications occurred at a rate of 2.4 per 100 patient-years, and rates did not differ by malnutrition severity.Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis is important for the recovery of weight-for-age in severely malnourished children starting ART. The extent of SM does not impede weight-for-age recovery or antiretroviral tolerability, but CD4% response is compromised in children with a very low weight-for-height/body mass index-for-age Z score, which may contribute to their high rate of mortality.

Background. Regular CD4 count testing is often used to monitor antiretroviral therapy efficacy. However, this practice may be redundant in children with a suppressed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load. Methods Study end points were as follows: (1) a CD4 count

We determined the prevalence and incidence of liver dysfunction before and after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database.Data from children initiated on cART between 2 and 18 years of age with baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) available before and at least once after cART initiation in TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database between 2008 and 2012 were analyzed. Prevalence and incidence of liver dysfunction and biomarkers including the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index and FIB4 index (a noninvasive panel to stage liver disease) were assessed.Data from 1930 children were included. Their median age was 6.9 years; 49% were male; 98% were perinatally infected and 94% were initiated on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase-based cART regimens. Before cART, the prevalence of ALT ≥3 times the upper limit of normal (×ULN) was 5.8%. There were 8.5% of children with aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index1.5 (suggestive of liver fibrosis) and 2.7% with FIB4 index1.3 (predictive of possible cirrhosis). Among the 1143 cases with normal baseline ALT (≤1×ULN), the incidence of ALT 3×ULN after cART was 1.19 of 1000 person-months (95% confidence interval: 0.93-1.51). Two of 350 with available tests (0.6%) met Hy's law (ALT3×ULN and total bilirubin2×ULN). By multivariate analysis, baseline hemoglobin7.5 g/dL was a predictor of ALT3×ULN, whereas age 5-9 years at cART initiation was protective for liver dysfunction.We demonstrated a low prevalence and incidence of liver dysfunction before and after cART initiation in children with normal baseline chemistries. In this population facing life-long cART, prospective surveillance for emergence of liver disease is warranted.

CD4+ T-lymphocyte destruction, microbial translocation, and systemic immune activation are the main mechanisms of the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection. To investigate the impact of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the immune profile of and microbial translocation in HIV-infected children, 60 HIV vertically infected children (31 without ART: HIV(+) and 29 with ART: ART(+)) and 20 HIV-uninfected children (HIV(–)) aged 2–12 years were recruited in Vietnam, and their blood samples were immunologically and bacteriologically analyzed. Among the HIV(+) children, the total CD4+-cell and their subset (type 1 helper T-cell (Th1)/Th2/Th17) counts were inversely correlated with age (all p < 0.05), whereas regulatory T-cell (Treg) counts and CD4/CD8 ratios had become lower, and the CD38+HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-DR+CD8+- (activated CD8+) cell percentage and plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14, a monocyte activation marker) levels had become higher than those of HIV(–) children by the age of 2 years; the CD4/CD8 ratio was inversely correlated with the plasma HIV RNA load and CD8+-cell activation status. Among the ART(+) children, the total CD4+-cell and Th2/Th17/Treg-subset counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio gradually increased, with estimated ART periods of normalization being 4.8–8.3 years, whereas Th1 counts and the CD8+-cell activation status normalized within 1 year of ART initiation. sCD14 levels remained high even after ART initiation. The detection frequency of bacterial 16S/23S ribosomal DNA/RNA in blood did not differ between HIV-infected and -uninfected children. Thus, in children, HIV infection caused a rapid decrease in Treg counts and the early activation of CD8+ cells and monocytes, and ART induced rapid Th1 recovery and early CD8+-cell activation normalization but had little effect on monocyte activation. The CD4/CD8 ratio could therefore be an additional marker for ART monitoring. © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

The growth benefits of cotrimoxazole during early antiretroviral therapy (ART) are not well characterized.Individuals enrolled in the Therapeutics Research, Education, and AIDS Training in Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database were included if they started ART at ages 1 month-14 years and had both height and weight measurements available at ART initiation (baseline). Generalized estimating equations were used to identify factors associated with change in height-for-age z-score (HAZ), follow-up HAZ ≥ -2, change in weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), and follow-up WAZ ≥ -2.A total of 3217 children were eligible for analysis. The adjusted mean change in HAZ among cotrimoxazole and non-cotrimoxazole users did not differ significantly over the first 24 months of ART. In children who were stunted (HAZ-2) at baseline, cotrimoxazole use was not associated with a follow-up HAZ ≥ -2. The adjusted mean change in WAZ among children with a baseline CD4 percentage (CD4%)25% became significantly different between cotrimoxazole and non-cotrimoxazole users after 6 months of ART and remained significant after 24 months (overall P.01). Similar changes in WAZ were observed in those with a baseline CD4% between 10% and 24% (overall P.01). Cotrimoxazole use was not associated with a significant difference in follow-up WAZ in children with a baseline CD4%10%. In those underweight (WAZ-2) at baseline, cotrimoxazole use was associated with a follow-up WAZ ≥ -2 (adjusted odds ratio, 1.70 vs not using cotrimoxazole [95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.25], P.01). This association was driven by children with a baseline CD4% ≥10%.Cotrimoxazole use is associated with benefits to WAZ but not HAZ during early ART in Asian children.