Second-line protease inhibitor-based HAART after failing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitorbased regimens in Asian HIV-infected children

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends boosted protease inhibitor (bPI)-based HAART after failing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) treatment. We examined outcomes of this regimen in Asian HIV-infected children. Methods: Children from five Asian countries in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database (TApHOD) with ≥24 weeks of NNRTI-based HAART followed by ≥24 weeks of bPI-based HAART were eligible. Primary outcomes were the proportions with virological suppression (HIV RNA<400 copies/ml) and immune recovery (CD4⁺ T-cell percentage [CD4%]≥25% if age <5 years and CD4⁺ T-cell count ≥500 cells/mm³ if age ≥5 years) at 48 and 96 weeks. Results: Of 3,422 children, 153 were eligible; 52% were female. At switch, median age was 10 years, 26% were in WHO stage 4. Median weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) was -1.9 (n=121), CD4% was 12.5% (n=106), CD4⁺ T-cell count was 237 cells/mm³ (n=112), and HIV RNA was 4.6 log₁₀ copies/ml (n=61). The most common bPIwas lopinavir/ritonavir (83%). At 48 weeks, 61% (79/129) had immune recovery, 60% (26/43) had undetectable HIV RNA and 73% (58/79) had fasting triglycerides ≥130 mg/dl. By 96 weeks, 70% (57/82) achieved immune recovery, 65% (17/26) hadvirological suppression, and hypertriglyceridaemia occurred in 66% (33/50). Predictors for virological suppression at week 48 were longer duration of NNRTI-based HAART (P=0.006), younger age (P=0.007), higher WAZ (P=0.020) and HIV RNA at switch <10,000 copies/ml (P=0.049). Conclusions: In this regional cohort of Asian children on bPI-based second-line HAART, 60% of children tested had immune recovery by 1 year, and two-thirds had hyperlipidaemia, highlighting difficulties in optimizing secondline HAART with limited drug options.