Real-world implementation of dolutegravir plus lamivudine in people living with HIV in Southwest China

ABSTRACT

Background

Long-term outcome data from real-world studies on the implementation of a two-drug dolutegravir plus lamivudine (DTG+3TC) regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remain limited. This study evaluated the real-world effectiveness and safety of DTG+3TC in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Southwestern China.

Methods

This was an observational, single-center, retrospective study that enrolled antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve (n = 36) and ART-experienced patients with HIV (n = 86) between January 2019 and April 2021. The virological response to therapy and adverse events were documented. The primary endpoint was an HIV viral load (VL) <50 copies/mL at week 48.

Results

The proportion of treatment-naïve and ART-experienced PLHIV with a VL <50 copies/mL at 48 weeks was 97.2% and 97.7%, respectively. The CD4 count increased significantly by 80.2 cells/μL (P = 0.012) and 79.0 cells/μL (P = 0.021) in the ART-naïve and ART-experienced patients, respectively. No patients discontinued DTG+3TC by week 48 due to adverse events.

Conclusion

Virologic suppression may be achieved with DTG+3TC, in ART-naïve patients with a high VL, and in ART-experienced patients with residual viremia. This study also demonstrated a low prevalence of drug-related side effects.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse events
• dolutegravir plus lamivudine
• HIV infection
• real-world retrospective study
• virological suppression
• antiretroviral therapy

Acknowledgment

We thank the site staff who supported the study.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Xiaoyan Yang, Xiaoxin Xie and Yanhua Fu contributed to the conception and design of the research. The methodology and analysis plan were constructed by Hai Long and Jun Li. Hai Long and Lin Gan were responsible for the study design and analysis plan and carried out the data monitoring; Lin Gan performed the statistical analysis. Xiaoxin Xie, Yanhua Fu, Chunli Song and Yebin Song contributed to the interpretation of data. Xiaoyan Yang wrote the original draft. All authors substantially contributed to the conception and design of the article and interpreting the relevant literature and were involved in writing the article or revised it for intellectual content. All authors agreed on the submission of the manuscript to the journal and reviewed and agreed on all versions of the article before submission, during revision, the final version accepted for publication, and significant changes introduced at the proofing stage. All authors had access to the study data and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis.

Data availability statement

The datasets used or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province (Qian kehe support [2021] 055).