Category Archives: Treatment
Effectiveness of protease inhibitor/nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based second-line antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, 25.5 million people are living with HIV, representing 70% of the global total. The need for second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) is projected to increase in the...
Candidates for inclusion in a universal antiretroviral regimen: Are lamivudine and emtricitabine interchangeable?
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Lamivudine (3TC) and emtricitabine (FTC) are the most widely used antiretroviral medications worldwide and are considered by the WHO to be interchangeable. This article reviews evidence supporting...
Most common oral manifestations in pediatric patients HIV positive and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy
This integrative literature review aims to identify the main oral lesions affecting pediatric patients with HIV, and describe the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on these injuries, comparing...
CD4 count and tuberculosis risk in HIV-positive adults not on ART: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: CD4 cell count in adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (PLHIV) not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) influences tuberculosis (TB) risk. Despite widespread use in models informing resource allocation,...
Interferon-free direct-acting antiviral therapy for acute hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-infected individuals: A literature review
Dramatic rises in hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection rates in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have been observed recently, largely attributable to increasing recreational drug use combined with increased testing...
Free software to analyse the clinical relevance of drug interactions with antiretroviral agents (SIMARV((R))) in patients with HIV/AIDS
BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy has extended the expected lifespan of patients with HIV/AIDS. However, the therapeutic benefits of some drugs used simultaneously with highly active antiretroviral therapy may be...
A historical review of HIV prevention and care initiatives in British Columbia, Canada: 1996-2015
INTRODUCTION: British Columbia has made significant progress in the treatment and prevention of HIV since 1996, when Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) became available. However, we currently lack a historical...
Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of lifelong antiretroviral therapy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Implications for resource-limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa
INTRODUCTION: The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) consolidated guideline recommends lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Ambiguity remains about...
Where is the evidence? The use of routinely-collected patient data to retain adults on antiretroviral treatment in low and middle income countries-a state of the evidence review
Retention rates in antiretroviral treatment (ART) in low- and middle-income countries are suboptimal for meeting global “90-90-90” treatment targets. Interventions using routinely collected patient data to follow up with ART...
Effect of frequency of clinic visits and medication pick-up on antiretroviral treatment outcomes: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Expanding and sustaining antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage may require simplified HIV service delivery strategies that concomitantly reduce the burden of care on the health system and patients while ensuring...