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Objectives: Our aim is to describe the impact of emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir (TDF) versus other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTIs)-based regimens on renal function of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) naïve patients >50 years old who started combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Design: National, retrospective cohort analysis of patients >50 years old when they started cART (January 1, 2006–December 31, 2009). Methods: We compared renal safety (changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] during the first year, and time to renal events during 4 years of follow-up) in FTC/TDF versus non-FTC/TDF users. Among FTC/TDF users, we compared protease inhibitors vs non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and Lopinavir/ritonavir vs Efavirenz. Results: We included 103 patients: median age: 54.9 years, 84% males, median CD4 count 247 cells/μl, median viral load 4.7 log; median follow up 18 months (max: 48 months); 73 started with FTC/TDF and 30 with other NRTIs. Change in eGFR was significantly worse for ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) vs efavirenz (EFV) users in the FTC/TDF group (71.2 vs 98.9 ml/min/1.73 m2 at month 12, P < 0.05). The risk of renal events (progression to an Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration value < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in subjects with baseline values >60) was comparable for FTC/TDF users and non users, but was higher and almost significant for LPV/r as compared to EFV users in the FTC/TDF group (adjusted hazard ratio 6.1, 95% CI 0.8–45.5). Conclusions: In our study with a population of HIV infected subjects ≥ 50 years old, renal safety was similar for FTC/TDF and other NRTI-based regimens, but worse for LPV/r as compared to other regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy seems to be lower in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients than in HCV-monoinfected individuals. Given that most pivotal trials conducted in coinfected patients have used the combination of pegylated interferon (pegIFN) along with fixed low doses (800 mg/day) of ribavirin (RBV), it is unclear whether HIV itself and/or suboptimal RBV exposure could explain this poorer outcome. Two well-defined end points of early virological response were evaluated in Peginterferon Ribavirina España Coinfección (PRESCO), a multicentre trial in which the combination of pegIFN plus RBV (1000 mg if body weight <75 kg and 1200 mg if >75 kg) was prescribed to coinfected patients. For comparisons, we used unpublished data from early kinetics in two other large trials, one performed in HIV-negative patients [Pegasys International Study Group (PISG)] in which RBV 1000–1200 mg/day was used and another [AIDS Pegasys Ribavirin Coinfection Trial (APRICOT)] in which HIV-positive patients received fixed low RBV doses (800 mg/day). A total of 348 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients from the PRESCO trial were analysed as well as all patients treated with pegIFN plus RBV, who completed 12 weeks of therapy in the comparative studies (435 in PISG and 268 in APRICOT). Negative serum HCV-RNA at week 4 (which has the highest positive predictive value of sustained virological response, SVR) was attained in 33.3%, 31.2% and 13% of treated patients with HCV genotype 1, respectively, in PRESCO, PISG and APRICOT. For HCV genotypes 2/3, responses were 83.7%, 84.2% and 37%, respectively. A decline lower than 2 log10 at week 12 (which has the highest negative predictive value of SVR) was seen in 25.5%, 19.5% and 37% of HCV genotype-1-infected patients, and in 2.1%, 2.9% and 12% of genotypes-2/3-infected patients, respectively. Prescription of high RBV doses enhances the early virological response to HCV therapy in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients, with results approaching those seen in HCV-monoinfected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

7-11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major antiretroviral guidelines recommend starting ART in patients>50 y of age, regardless of CD4 cell count. However, no references to the preferred cART for these patients have been described. The combination FTC/TDF is one of the cornerstones of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in naïve patients. We studied the persistence of coformulated FTC/TDF in this scenario. National, retrospective cohort analysis of HIV-infected patients>50 y at the time they began the first cART regimen (January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2009). Patients were selected in a proportion 2:1 to FTC/TDF vs. other NRTI regimens (no-TDF). We compared the persistence of treatment in FTC/TDF users vs. no-TDF (main groups). Among TDF users, we compared the persistence in PI vs. NNRTI users and in lopinavir/r vs. efavirenz users. Persistence was defined as the duration of the initial treatment; we analyzed time to any change or discontinuation according to initial regimen. We included 161 patients: median age: 54.6 y, 83% males, median CD4 count 191 cells/μl, median viral load 4.7 log, follow up: median 19 months, max 48 months. Of them, 112 started with FTC/TDF (53 with PIs, 57 with NNRTIs); and 49 with other NRTIs (no-TDF) (22 with PI, 23 NNRTI). During the follow-up period 79 patients (49%) modified their treatment, with statistically significant differences among groups, as shown in . *Adjusted by age, sex, transmission category and baseline CD4 count and viral load. In our study (antiretroviral-naïve patients>50 y), the persistence of FTC/TDF regimens was significantly higher than other NRTI regimens. According to the third agent, there was a trend to a higher persistence with NNRTI vs. PI. This reaches statistical significance when we compare EFV vs. LPV/r. In the absence of randomized clinical trials, our data may contribute to a better understanding on how cART works in this ageing population, which is progressively increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]