Hogg RS, Montaner JS, Christopherson C, Kwok S, Sninsky J, Harris M, Conway B; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 806 (abstract no. 42169).

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the antiviral effect of AZT versus d4T given in combination with 3TC and IDV among antiretroviral (ARV) therapy naive individuals enrolled in the drug treatment program of the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: In BC antiretroviral therapies are distributed free of charge according to therapeutic guidelines. Eligible for analysis were subjects who started therapy with AZT or d4T given in combination with 3TC and IDV from 07/96 to 09/97, had a baseline plasma viral load (pVL) determination and at least 2 pVL results during therapy. The primary outcome was 2 consecutive decreases in pVL to < 500 copies/mL. All analyses were conducted on an intent to treat basis. Statistical comparisons were carried out using distribution-free and multivariate logistic methods. RESULTS: 191 antiretroviral naive subjects (67 and 124 on AZT and d4T based combination therapy, respectively) were eligible for analysis. There was no statistical difference between the two groups at baseline with respect to age (p = 0.373), gender (p = 0.068), AIDS (p = 0.438), CD4 cell count (p = 0.364) and pVL (p = 0.606). In addition there was no statistical difference between the two groups with respect to the proportion having 2 pVL below 500 copies/mL (p = 0.504). In a multivariate analysis after adjusting for age, gender, CD4 cell count, pVL at baseline, those on d4T based triple drug therapy were just as likely to have 2 consecutive pVL below 500 copies/mL (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.44-2.06) as those on AZT based triple therapy. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results of this observational population-based study among ARV therapy naive subjects suggest that AZT or d4T given in combination with 3TC and IDV had similar plasma viral load effects. Formal comparisons of these two regimens within a large prospectively designed randomized clinical trial will be needed to definitively ascertain whether there is a statistically and clinically significant difference in their antiviral potency.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Anti-HIV Agents
• Antiviral Agents
• British Columbia
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Canada
• HIV Protease Inhibitors
• Indinavir
• Lamivudine
• Research
• Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
• Stavudine
• Viral Load
• Zidovudine

Other ID:

• 98403099

UI: 102230968

From Meeting Abstracts