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Impact of baseline HIV-1 RNA levels on initial highly active antiretroviral therapy outcome: a meta-analysis of 12,370 patients in 21 clinical trials*.

Stephan C, Hill A, Sawyer W, van Delft Y, Moecklinghoff C

HIV medicine, 2013

7 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individual randomized trials of first-line antiretroviral treatment do not consistently show an association between higher baseline HIV-1 RNA and lower efficacy.

METHODS: A MEDLINE search identified 21 HIV clinical trials with published analyses of antiretroviral efficacy by baseline HIV-1 RNA, using a standardized efficacy endpoint of HIV-1 RNA suppression <50 copies/mL at week 48.

RESULTS: Among 21 clinical trials identified, eight evaluated only nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based combinations, eight evaluated only protease inhibitor-based regimens and five compared different treatment classes. Ten of the trials included tenofovir (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) as only nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbone, in addition but not restricted to abacavir (ABC)/lamivudine (3TC) (n = 7), zidovudine (ZDV)/3TC (n = 4) and stavudine (d4T)/3TC (n = 1). Across trials, the mean percentage of patients achieving HIV-1 RNA 100 000 copies/mL. In the meta-analysis, the absolute difference in efficacy between low and high HIV-1 RNA subgroups was 7.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9-8.9%; P < 0.001]. This difference was consistent in trials of NNRTI-based treatments (difference = 6.9%; 95% CI 4.3-9.6%), protease inhibitor-based treatments (difference = 8.4%; 95% CI 6.0-10.8%) and integrase or chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5)-based treatments (difference = 6.0%; 95% CI 2.1-9.9%) and for trials using TDF/FTC (difference = 8.4%; 95%…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 7 participants or records.

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