For adult patients with HIV, earlier treatment results in faster and more likely virologic suppression along with greater linkage to care, according to the 2018 Recommendations of the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA).
The updated treatment and prevention guidelines also have outlined drug selection, including three-drug therapy (usually as a single-tablet combination) and two-drug switch therapy, as well as discouragement of cash incentives for treatment. The guidelines, written by Michael S. Saag, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his coauthors, were published in JAMA.
Dr. Michael Saag
Since the previous IAS-USA guidelines were published in 2016 (JAMA. 2016;316(2):191-210), multiple studies have investigated the importance of timely antiretroviral therapy (ART). In one study, patients with HIV began ART within 24 hours of diagnosis. These patients achieved virologic suppression (fewer than 200 HIV RNA copies/mL) quicker than patients treated according to previous guidelines (medians, 1.8 months vs. 4.3 months; P = .0001). Another study found that patients who began ART immediately were more likely to achieve viral suppression at 12 months (50% vs. 34%; P = .007) and become linked to care at 3 months (68% vs. 43%). As such, the updated guidelines recommended that ART should be started as soon as possible (even without supporting laboratory results). Exceptions were maintained for patients not ready to start therapy and those at risk for immune reconstitution syndrome.
With regard to initial treatment selection, three-drug therapy is recommended, incorporating an integrase single-strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI) with 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Single-tablet formulations are effective, well tolerated, and promote medication adherence. Dolutegravir is not recommended in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant because it may increase the risk of neural tube defects. It is unclear whether other InSTIs pose similar risks. Although two-drug regimens are not recommended for initial therapy, they may be considered as switch therapy to reduce cost and complications.
The 2018 guidelines have discouraged cash incentives for ART adherence because such programs have proven ineffective. Conversely, noncash incentives are likely to be beneficial. Further recommendations to improve outcomes were wide ranging and included identification of patients subject to food scarcity or psychiatric disorders. For the latter, chronic depression has been associated with worse outcomes – including a two-fold mortality risk – and so appropriate treatment is recommended.
The researchers concluded with a brief review of future directions for HIV treatment and prevention. Long-acting injectable and oral antiretrovirals are under investigation, along with implantable and nanoparticle therapies.
“Clinicians who care for patients with HIV have a major role in advocating for programs and their patients at the local, national, and international levels,” the authors wrote. “Advocacy should go beyond access to ART and include access to mental health and substance abuse services, as well as efforts to end policies such as HIV criminalization that impede the ability to provide evidence-based care and prevention services.”
The authors reported support from Gilead, ViiV, Merck, and other sources. The current guidelines were funded by IAS-USA.
SOURCE: Saag MS et al. JAMA. 2018;320[4]:379-96.