ABSTRACT Background: Viral load peak and immune activation occur shortly after exposure during acute or early HIV infection (AEHI). We aimed to define the benefit of early start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) during AEHI in terms of immunological recovery, virological suppression, and treatment discontinuation. Setting: Patients diagnosed with AEHI (Fiebig stages I-V) during 2008-2014 from an analysis of 20 Italian centers. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, and multicenter study. We investigated the ef- fect of early ART (defined as initiation within 3 months from AEHI diagnosis) on time to virolog- ical suppression, optimal immunological recovery (defined as CD4 count ≥ 500/μL, CD4 ≥ 30%, and CD4/CD8 ≥ 1), and first-line ART regimen discontinuation by Cox regression analysis. Results: There were 321 patients with AEHI included in the study (82.9% in Fiebig stage III-V). At diagnosis, the median viral load was 5.67 log10 copies/mL and the median CD4 count was 456 cells/μL. Overall, 70.6% of patients started early ART (median time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation 12 days, IQR 6-27). Higher baseline viral load and AEHI diagnosis during 2012-2014 were independently associated with early ART. HBV co-infection, baseline CD4/CD8 ≥ 1, lower baseline HIV-RNA, and AEHI diagnosis in recent years (2012-2014) were independently associ- ated with a shorter time to virological suppression. Early ART emerged as an independent predic- tor of optimal immunological recovery after adjustment for baseline CD4 (absolute and percent- age count) and CD4/CD8 ratio. The only independent predictor of first-line ART discontinuation was an initial ART regimen including > 3 drugs. Conclusions: In a large cohort of well-characterized patients with AEHI, we confirmed the ben- eficial role of early ART on CD4+ T-cell recovery and on rates of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization. Moreover, we recognized baseline CD4/CD8 ratio as an independent factor influencing time to virological response in the setting of AEHI, thus giving new insights into research of immunolog- ical markers associated with virological control.

Enhanced immunological recovery with early start of antiretroviral therapy during acute or early HIV infection–results of Italian Network of ACuTe HIV InfectiON (INACTION) retrospective study / Antonio, Muscatello; Silvia, Nozza; Massimiliano, Fabbiani; Ilaria De Benedetto, ; Marco, Ripa; Raffaele, Dell’Acqua; Andrea, Antinori; Carmela, Pinnetti; Andrea, Calcagno; Micol, Ferrara; Emanuele, Focà; Eugenia, Quiros-Roldan; Diego, Ripamonti; Marco, Campus; Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, ; Carlo, Torti; Lucio, Cosco; Antonio Di Biagio, ; Stefano, Rusconi; Giulia, Marchetti; Cristina, Mussini; Roberto, Gulminetti; Antonella, Cingolani; D'Ettorre, Gabriella; Giordano, Madeddu; Antonina, Franco; Giancarlo, Orofino; Nicola, Squillace; Andrea, Gori; Giuseppe, Tambussi; Alessandra, Bandera; Inaction Study, Group.. - In: PATHOGENS & IMMUNITY. - ISSN 2469-2964. - 5:1(2020), pp. 8-33. [10.20411/pai.v5i1.341]

Enhanced immunological recovery with early start of antiretroviral therapy during acute or early HIV infection–results of Italian Network of ACuTe HIV InfectiON (INACTION) retrospective study

Gabriella D’ettorre;
2020

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Viral load peak and immune activation occur shortly after exposure during acute or early HIV infection (AEHI). We aimed to define the benefit of early start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) during AEHI in terms of immunological recovery, virological suppression, and treatment discontinuation. Setting: Patients diagnosed with AEHI (Fiebig stages I-V) during 2008-2014 from an analysis of 20 Italian centers. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, and multicenter study. We investigated the ef- fect of early ART (defined as initiation within 3 months from AEHI diagnosis) on time to virolog- ical suppression, optimal immunological recovery (defined as CD4 count ≥ 500/μL, CD4 ≥ 30%, and CD4/CD8 ≥ 1), and first-line ART regimen discontinuation by Cox regression analysis. Results: There were 321 patients with AEHI included in the study (82.9% in Fiebig stage III-V). At diagnosis, the median viral load was 5.67 log10 copies/mL and the median CD4 count was 456 cells/μL. Overall, 70.6% of patients started early ART (median time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation 12 days, IQR 6-27). Higher baseline viral load and AEHI diagnosis during 2012-2014 were independently associated with early ART. HBV co-infection, baseline CD4/CD8 ≥ 1, lower baseline HIV-RNA, and AEHI diagnosis in recent years (2012-2014) were independently associ- ated with a shorter time to virological suppression. Early ART emerged as an independent predic- tor of optimal immunological recovery after adjustment for baseline CD4 (absolute and percent- age count) and CD4/CD8 ratio. The only independent predictor of first-line ART discontinuation was an initial ART regimen including > 3 drugs. Conclusions: In a large cohort of well-characterized patients with AEHI, we confirmed the ben- eficial role of early ART on CD4+ T-cell recovery and on rates of CD4/CD8 ratio normalization. Moreover, we recognized baseline CD4/CD8 ratio as an independent factor influencing time to virological response in the setting of AEHI, thus giving new insights into research of immunolog- ical markers associated with virological control.
2020
acute/early hiv infection; early antiretroviral treatment; optimal immunological re- covery; intensified antiretroviral regimen
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Enhanced immunological recovery with early start of antiretroviral therapy during acute or early HIV infection–results of Italian Network of ACuTe HIV InfectiON (INACTION) retrospective study / Antonio, Muscatello; Silvia, Nozza; Massimiliano, Fabbiani; Ilaria De Benedetto, ; Marco, Ripa; Raffaele, Dell’Acqua; Andrea, Antinori; Carmela, Pinnetti; Andrea, Calcagno; Micol, Ferrara; Emanuele, Focà; Eugenia, Quiros-Roldan; Diego, Ripamonti; Marco, Campus; Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, ; Carlo, Torti; Lucio, Cosco; Antonio Di Biagio, ; Stefano, Rusconi; Giulia, Marchetti; Cristina, Mussini; Roberto, Gulminetti; Antonella, Cingolani; D'Ettorre, Gabriella; Giordano, Madeddu; Antonina, Franco; Giancarlo, Orofino; Nicola, Squillace; Andrea, Gori; Giuseppe, Tambussi; Alessandra, Bandera; Inaction Study, Group.. - In: PATHOGENS & IMMUNITY. - ISSN 2469-2964. - 5:1(2020), pp. 8-33. [10.20411/pai.v5i1.341]
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