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Objective: To investigate immunologic, virologic, and clinical consequences of episodes of transient viremia in patients with sustained virologic suppression. Methods: From the AIDS Therapy Evaluation Project, Netherlands cohort. 4447 previously therapy-naive patients were selected who were on continuous combination antiretroviral therapy and had initial success (2 consecutive HIV RNA measurements 1000 copies/mL) after initial success, the occurrence of therapy changes, drug resistance, and clinical events was assessed. Results: During 11,187 person-years of follow-up, 1281 (28.8%) patients had at least 1 RNA measurement >50 copies/mL. Among 8069 episodes, there were 5989 (74.2%) episodes of suppression, 1711 (21.2%) episodes of low-level viremia, and 369 (4.6%) episodes of high-level viremia. Most episodes of low-level viremia consisted of

Objectives: To quantify the performance of existing first-line and second-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens on patient's clinical outcomes in the Netherlands using ATHENA data and to evaluate the potential for new drug regimens to improve patient's clinical outcomes using a data-based mathematical model. Design and methods: We analysed data from 3995 patients from the Dutch ATHENA national observational cohort between 2000 and 2010. We quantified the main drug-related reasons for switching from first-line and second-line cART, classified as toxicity, simplification/new medication becoming available, virological failure, or other reasons. We developed a deterministic model describing HIV infection and treatment in the Netherlands parameterized on the basis of these data. The model simulated how a new drug regimen, with either improved toxicity or virological failure profile, could impact on patient's clinical outcomes. Results: The main reason for switching current first-line and second-line regimens was toxicity, accounting for around 50% of switching from first-line and from second-line cART. The model found that a new drug regimen with increased tolerability profile could have the highest potential impact on patient's outcomes, especially as a first-line treatment. A new first-line drug regimen with improved tolerability could increase the time patients spend on first-line cART, decrease their risk of switching from first-line cART and thus simplify patient management. Conclusion: New drug regimens with improved toxicity profiles could have the greatest impact on patient outcomes and simplify patient management in the Netherlands.