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Background Few data are available on the real-world efficacy of receiving tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir (-DTG) as human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) treatment, particularly among young people in West Africa. Here, we evaluated pharmaco-virological outcomes and resistance profiles among Togolese children and adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lomé, Togo, enrolling antiretroviral-treated people with HIV aged from 18 months to 24 years. Plasma HIV-1 viral load and antiretroviral concentrations were measured. Next-generation sequencing of protease, reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase was performed on all samples with viral loads >200 copies/mL. Drug resistance mutations (DRMs) were identified and interpreted using the ANRS-MIE algorithm. Results 264 participants were enrolled (median age, 17 years); 226 received a DTG-based regimen for a median of 20.5 months. Among them, there was virological suppression at the 200-copies/mL threshold in 80.0% of the participants. Plasma DTG concentrations were adequate (ie, >640 ng/mL), suboptimal, and below the limit of quantification in 74.1%, 6.7%, and 19.2% of participants receiving DTG, respectively. Overall, viruses resistant to any of nucleoside RT inhibitors, non-NRTIs, and protease inhibitors were found in 52%, 66%, and 1.6% of participants, respectively. A major integrase inhibitor DRM was observed in 9.4% (n = 3/32; R263K, E138A-G140A-Q148R, and N155H) of participants with a viral load >200 copies/mL. Conclusions These first findings in a large series of adolescents in a low-income country showed a good virological response of 80% and the presence of an integrase DRM in 9.4% of virological failures, supporting the need to monitor DTG drug resistance to reduce the risk of resistance acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated Ibalizumab (IBA)-containing standardized optimized salvage regimen (with or without a 4-week foscarnet induction) in individuals harboring multidrug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2). Nine were included; 2 achieved virological suppression after foscarnet induction with a sustained suppression at Week 24 after IBA initiation, and an additional individual at Week 24 after Ibalizumab initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are crucial for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 infection, due to limited available therapeutic options. Recently, bictegravir has been approved for HIV-1, but no data are currently available for HIV-2. Methods We assessed the phenotypic susceptibility of 12 HIV-2 clinical isolates, obtained from 2 antiretroviral-naive and 10 antiretroviral-experienced patients, to 5 INSTIs (bictegravir, cabotegravir, dolutegravir, elvitegravir, and raltegravir) at the virological failure of an INSTI-based regimen. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were determined. Phenotypic inhibitory quotients were determined using trough INSTI plasma concentrations. Results Wild-type viruses were susceptible to the 5 INSTIs, with IC50s in the nanomolar range. Bictegravir had a lower IC50 than the other INSTIs on those HIV-2 isolates bearing major, resistance-associated mutations (codons 143, 148, and 155). We identified a new resistance profile—a 5–amino-acid insertion at codon 231 of the HIV-2 integrase (231INS)—in 6 patients at the virological failure of a raltegravir-based regimen. Those patients had adequate raltegravir concentrations, but harbored multiresistant viruses with low genotypic susceptibility scores (median = 1.5). This insertion rendered isolates highly resistant to raltegravir and elvitegravir, and moderately resistant to dolutegravir and cabotegravir. Regarding bictegravir, 2 isolates remained susceptible and 2 had a slight increase in IC50 (3- to 5-fold change). Conclusions Our results confirm the potency of INSTI on HIV-2 clinical isolates with wild-type integrase. In addition, we identified a new resistance pathway, 231INS, selected in antiretroviral-experienced patients with multiresistant HIV-2 viruses. This highlights the need of close follow-up of those patients initiating an INSTI-based regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background New options for first-line treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection are needed. We evaluated an integrase inhibitor (raltegravir)–containing regimen. Methods Antiretroviral therapy (ART)–naive adults with symptomatic infection by HIV-2 only, CD4 count <500 cells/μL or CD4 decrease >50 cells/μL/year over the past 3 years, or a confirmed plasma HIV-2 RNA (pVL) load ≥100 copies/mL were eligible for this noncomparative trial. The composite primary endpoint was survival at 48 weeks without any of the following: CD4 gain from baseline <100 cells/μL, confirmed pVL ≥40 copies/mL from week 24, raltegravir permanent discontinuation, or incident B or C event. HIV-2 ultrasensitive pVL (uspVL) and total DNA were assessed using in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Results Baseline median CD4 count of 30 enrolled individuals (67% women) was 436 cells/µL (interquartile range [IQR], 314–507 cells/µL); pVL was ≥40 copies/mL in 67% of them, uspVL was ≥5 copies/mL in 92%, and total DNA was >6 copies by PCR in 32%. At week 48, the composite endpoint of success was reached in 40% [95% confidence interval, 22.7%–59.4%]. Failure was mainly (50%) due to CD4 gain <100 cells/µL; uspVL was <5 copies/mL in 87% and total DNA >6 copies by PCR in 12% of participants. Median CD4 gain was 87 cells/µL (IQR, 38–213 cells/µL; n = 28). No serious adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions Raltegravir-containing ART is a safe option for first-line treatment of HIV-2 infection, yielding a comparable success rate to protease inhibitors. Clinical Trials Registration NCT 01605890. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This European inter-cohort collaboration shows poorer immunological and virological responses with triple NRTI compared to PI/r-containing cART in treatment-naïve HIV-2-infected patients, regardless of baseline CD4 cell count. PI/r-containing cART should be recommended as first-line antiretroviral regimens in HIV-2 infection.Background. Triple nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are recommended by the World Health Organization as first-line regimen in treatment-naïve HIV-2–infected patients. However, ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r)–containing regimens are frequently prescribed. In the absence of previous randomized trials, we retrospectively compared these regimens in observational cohorts.Methods. HIV-2–infected patients from 7 European cohorts who started triple NRTI or PI/r since January 1998 were included. Piecewise linear models were used to estimate CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-2 RNA level slopes, differentiating an early phase (until end of month 3) and a second phase (months 4–12). On-treatment analyses censored data at major treatment modification and systematically at month 12.Results. Forty-four patients started triple NRTI therapy and 126 started PI/r therapy. Overall, the median CD4 cell count was 191 cells/mm3 and the median plasma HIV-2 RNA level was ≥2.7 log10 copies/ml in 61% of the patients at combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation; the median duration of the first cART was 20 months, not differing between groups. PI/r regimens were associated with better CD4 cell count and HIV-2 RNA level outcomes, compared with NRTI regimens. Estimated CD4 cell count slopes were +6 and +12 cells/mm3/month during the early phase (P = .22), and −60 cells/mm3/year versus +76 cells/mm3/year during the second phase (P = .002), for triple NRTI and PI/r, respectively. Estimated mean HIV-2 RNA levels at month 12 in patients with detectable viremia at cART initiation were 4.0 and 2.2 log10 copies/ml, respectively (P = .005).Conclusions. In this observational study, PI/r-containing regimens showed superior efficacy over triple NRTI regimens as first-line therapy in HIV-2–infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]