Virology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Virology, including details on viruses, pathology, classification, definitions.

Chinese pediatric highly active antiretroviral therapy observational cohort: a 1-year analysis of clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes.

Zhang F, Haberer JE, Zhao Y, Dou Z, Zhao H, He Y, Cao GH

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS, Division of Treatment and Care, Beijing, China. treatment@chinaaids.cn

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on the outcomes of pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the developing world. METHODS: Eighty-three children were followed prospectively in China from July 2005 to August 2006 and received (zidovudine or stavudine) plus lamivudine plus (nevirapine or efavirenz). RESULTS: Fifty-one children were ART naive at enrollment, and 32 were ART experienced. After 12 months, median weight increased by 0.3 weight for age z-score, median CD4 count increased from 116 to 340 cells/mm (P < 0.0001), and median viral load decreased from 5.53 to <2.60 log10 copies/mL (P < 0.0001) in the previously ART-naive children. In the ART-experienced children, median CD4 count increased from 193 to 318 cells/mm (P = 0.13), despite little change in median viral load (4.85 to 4.58 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.83). The viral load was <400 copies/mL in 55% of the previously ART-naive children and in 16% of the ART-experienced children. CONCLUSIONS: Weight and CD4 cell counts improved, and more than half of previously ART-naive patients had undetectable viral loads at 1 year. Future efforts should focus on improved virologic suppression through improved adherence and access to second-line regimens.

Published 28 November 2007 in J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 46(5): 594-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Virology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.