Optimizing Pediatric HIV-1 Treatment, Nairobi, Kenya

Summary

Given the high mortality associated with infant HIV-1 and the fact that surrogate markers are poorly predictive of mortality risk,empiric highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation is started in infants younger than 12 months. A problem with this approach is that it obligates infants to life-long therapy, which may be associated with cumulative drug toxicity, poor adherence, and treatment failure. Early HAART for prevention of mortality during the first 2 years of life has potential to salvage immune function and alter viral set-point, allowing withdrawal of therapy, perhaps for several years, until subsequent CD4% decline requires it. This untested approach is attractive because it combines the survival benefits of early pediatric HAART therapy with the benefits of antiretroviral deferral. One hundred and fifty infants who initiated HAART at \<13 months of age will be treated with HAART regimen for 24 months after which those who have immune reconstitution and adequate growth (\~100) will be randomized to continued versus deferred therapy. Clinical outcomes, growth, and toxicity will be compared in these children to determine if interruption is a safe and beneficial strategy. Follow-up in this studies will be closely monitored by an external Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB).

Timeline

Start

2007-09

Primary completion

2013-07

Completion

2014-12

Publications

• Results Wamalwa D, Benki-Nugent S, Langat A, Tapia K, Ngugi E, Moraa H, Maleche-Obimbo E, Otieno V, Inwani I, Richardson BA, Chohan B, Overbaugh J, John-Stewart GC. Treatment interruption after 2-year antiretroviral treatment initiated during acute/early HIV in infancy. AIDS. 2016 Sep 24;30(15):2303-13. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001158.
• Results Njuguna IN, Wagner AD, Cranmer LM, Otieno VO, Onyango JA, Chebet DJ, Okinyi HM, Benki-Nugent S, Maleche-Obimbo E, Slyker JA, John-Stewart GC, Wamalwa DC. Hospitalized Children Reveal Health Systems Gaps in the Mother-Child HIV Care Cascade in Kenya. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2016 Mar;30(3):119-24. doi: 10.1089/apc.2015.0239.
• Results Sridharan G, Wamalwa D, John-Stewart G, Tapia K, Langat A, Moraa Okinyi H, Adhiambo J, Chebet D, Maleche-Obimbo E, Karr CJ, Benki-Nugent S. High Viremia and Wasting Before Antiretroviral Therapy Are Associated With Pneumonia in Early-Treated HIV-Infected Kenyan Infants. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2017 Sep 1;6(3):245-252. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piw038.
• Results Asbjornsdottir KH, Hughes JP, Wamalwa D, Langat A, Slyker JA, Okinyi HM, Overbaugh J, Benki-Nugent S, Tapia K, Maleche-Obimbo E, Rowhani-Rahbar A, John-Stewart G. Differences in virologic and immunologic response to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-1-infected infants and children. AIDS. 2016 Nov 28;30(18):2835-2843. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001244.
• Results Wagner A, Slyker J, Langat A, Inwani I, Adhiambo J, Benki-Nugent S, Tapia K, Njuguna I, Wamalwa D, John-Stewart G. High mortality in HIV-infected children diagnosed in hospital underscores need for faster diagnostic turnaround time in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs. BMC Pediatr. 2015 Feb 15;15:10. doi: 10.1186/s12887-015-0325-8.
• Results Benki-Nugent S, Eshelman C, Wamalwa D, Langat A, Tapia K, Okinyi HM, John-Stewart G. Correlates of age at attainment of developmental milestones in HIV-infected infants receiving early antiretroviral therapy. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2015 Jan;34(1):55-61. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000526.
• Results Slyker JA, Casper C, Tapia K, Richardson B, Bunts L, Huang ML, Wamalwa D, Benki-Nugent S, John-Stewart G. Accelerated suppression of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection in HIV-infected infants initiating lopinavir/ritonavir-based versus nevirapine-based combination antiretroviral therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 May;58(9):1333-7. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu088. Epub 2014 Feb 18.
• Results Langat A, Benki-Nugent S, Wamalwa D, Tapia K, Ngugi E, Diener L, Richardson BA, Melvin A, John-Stewart GC. Lipid changes in Kenyan HIV-1-infected infants initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy by 1 year of age. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Jul;32(7):e298-304. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31828afb2a.
• Benki-Nugent SF, Martopullo I, Laboso T, Tamasha N, Wamalwa DC, Tapia K, Langat A, Maleche-Obimbo E, Marra CM, Bangirana P, Boivin MJ, John-Stewart GC. High Plasma Soluble CD163 During Infancy Is a Marker for Neurocognitive Outcomes in Early-Treated HIV-Infected Children. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2019 May 1;81(1):102-109. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001979.
• Benki-Nugent S, Wamalwa D, Langat A, Tapia K, Adhiambo J, Chebet D, Okinyi HM, John-Stewart G. Comparison of developmental milestone attainment in early treated HIV-infected infants versus HIV-unexposed infants: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pediatr. 2017 Jan 17;17(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12887-017-0776-1.

Drugs

Indications