Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Few randomized trials comparing antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens have been conducted in resource-limited settings.Methods
In the Republic of South Africa, antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals >14 years old with a CD4 cell count <200 cells/μL or a prior AIDS diagnosis were randomized to receive efavirenz (EFV) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) with either zidovudine (ZDV) plus didanosine (ddI) or stavudine (d4T) plus lamivudine (3TC) in an open-label, 2-by-2 factorial study and followed up for the primary outcome of AIDS or death and prespecified secondary outcomes, including CD4 cell count and viral load changes, treatment discontinuation, and grade 4 events.Results
In total, 1771 persons were randomized and followed up for a median of 24.7 months. AIDS or death occurred in (1) 163 participants assigned EFV and 157 assigned LPV/r (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.84-1.30]) and in (2) 170 participants assigned ZDV+ddI and 150 assigned d4T+3TC (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.93-1.44]). HIV RNA levels were lower (P < .001) and CD4 cell counts were greater (P < .01) over follow-up for d4T+3TC versus ZDV+ddI. Rates of potentially life-threatening adverse events and overall treatment discontinuation were similar for d4T+3TC and ZDV+ddI; however, more participants discontinued d4T because of toxicity (12.6%) than other treatments (<5%).Conclusion
EFV and LPV/r are effective components of first-line ART. The poorer viral and immune responses with ZDV+ddI and the greater toxicity-associated discontinuation rate with d4T+3TC suggest that these treatments be used cautiously as initial therapy.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00342355.
SUBMITTER: Phidisa II Writing Team for Project Phidisa
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3008165 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ratsela Andrew A Polis Michael M Dhlomo Sibongiseni S Emery Sean S Grandits Greg G Khabo Paul P Khanyile Thandeka T Komati Stephanus S Neaton James D JD Naidoo Lionel Chris David LC Magongoa Daphne D Qolohle Duma D
The Journal of infectious diseases 20101013 10
<h4>Background</h4>Few randomized trials comparing antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens have been conducted in resource-limited settings.<h4>Methods</h4>In the Republic of South Africa, antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals >14 years old with a CD4 cell count <200 cells/μL or a prior AIDS diagnosis were randomized to receive efavirenz (EFV) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) with either zidovudine (ZDV) plus didanosine (ddI) or stavudine (d4T) plus lamivudine ...[more]