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Starting ART in the Context of Opportunistic Infections. HAIVN Harvard Medical School AIDS Initiative in Vietnam. Learning Objectives. By the end of this session, participants should be able to: Explain the best time and clinical conditions that an acute OI patient can start ART
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Starting ART in the Context of Opportunistic Infections HAIVN Harvard Medical School AIDS Initiative in Vietnam
Learning Objectives By the end of this session, participants should be able to: • Explain the best time and clinical conditions that an acute OI patient can start ART • Describe how to start ART in the context of acute OIs
Starting ARV in the Context of OIs:Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages • Recovery of immune system • Mortality reduction • Treatment of OI • Prevention of other OI and complications due to HIV disease Disadvantages • Risk of IRIS • Drug interactions • Drug adverse effects • Number of pills: adherence It’s never an emergency to start ART
General Principles (1) • Little data exist on best time to start ART when a patient is being treated for an OI • Clinical judgment must be used • Before starting ARV, patient should be: • Responding to OI therapy, clinically stable • Tolerating OI drugs with no side effects
General Principles (2) • It’s important to know drug-drug interactions of all medications before they are prescribed • If the patient is already on ART, do not stop • Continue ART and start OI treatment • Change ART regimen if necessary to avoid interactions with OI drugs
OIs that Require ARVs to Resolve • Diarrheal agents • Kaposi Sarcoma • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) • Non-infectious causes: • Malignancy • Autoimmune conditions • Skin conditions In these cases, ARVs should be started as soon as possible
OIs With Which ART Should Be Delayed • Tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections • Cerebral toxoplasmosis • Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia (PCP) • Cryptococcosis • Penicillium marneffei • Other fungal infections
Principles for Starting ARVs in the Context of an Acute OI General Principle: Treat the OI first
Antiretroviral Therapy and TB: Early vs. Late ARV (1) • TB is associated with increased HIV disease progression • Benefits of early ARV: • Reduction in HIV viral load and slowing of HIV disease progression • Reduction in risk of developing other OIs • Prevention of new AIDS defining illnesses and reduction in mortality
Antiretroviral Therapy and TB: Early vs. Late ARV (2) • However, there are also risks to starting ARVs early such as: • Drug toxicity/intolerance • hepatotoxicity • peripheral neuropathy from INH & D4T • drug allergy or hypersensitivity • Drug interactions (RIF & ARV) • Pill burden (>15 pills/day) • IRIS • Patient may be ready for ARV or not
HIV and TB: When to Start ARVs? If CD4 Available Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, MOH Vietnam. 2009. * If patient is at clinical stage 4, provide ART immediately after the tolerance of TB drugs (between 2-8 weeks)
Which ARV to Start? • If patient is already on ART, do not stop • If patient is on RIF and EFV is available, substitute EFV for NVP • If EFV is not available or if patient cannot take EFV, then: • Use NVP with TB treatment • Second Line ARV: • Cannot take PI with RIF due to PI drug levels • Refer to specialty center for treatment
Case Study, Lan (1) • Lan, a 29 year old woman is referred to the HIV OPC by the district TB center • Just diagnosed with pulmonary TB and also had a positive HIV test. • Has been taking TB drugs (RHEZ) for 2 weeks • TB doctor has referred her to your OPC for ART • What factors should you consider when deciding when to start ART for this patient?
Case Study, Lan (2) • Further information: • The CD4 cell count is 25 cells/mm3. • Other lab tests are within normal limits • She has been tolerating the TB drugs without difficulty and with good adherence. • She lives close by and is willing to return to the OPC frequently for close monitoring • When would you recommend she start ART? • What ART regimen would you recommend?
Timing of ART in Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM) (1) Optimal time to start ART in patients with CM is not clear • There are conflicting data from studies examining the risk of mortality from IRIS associated with a diagnosis of CM • Increased intracranial pressure related to IRIS may result in higher rates of morbidity and mortality
Timing of ART in Cryptococcal Meningitis (2) General Recommendations • Defer starting ART until patients are clinically stable on anti-fungal treatment • Usually occurs between 2-10 weeks after starting cryptococcal treatment • Regardless of when starting ART, aggressive management of elevated intracranial pressure is vital
Case Study, Tuan Anh (1) • Tuan Anh, a 30 year old man with HIV presents to the hospital because of 4 days of fever, severe headache, and blurry vision. • His CD4 count is 70. • A lumbar puncture is performed. • WBC count 20 cells/cc3, with 90% lymphocytes. • Protein 0,85g/l • Glucose normal • India Ink stain is positive for many Cryptococcus yeast forms.
Case Study, Tuan Anh (2) • Tuan Anh is started on treatment for cryptococcal meningitis • His treatment plan includes: • Management of intracranial pressure • Amphotericin B at 0.7mg/kg/day for 2 weeks • Fluconazole 900 mg/day for another 8 weeks • Secondary prophylaxis with fluconazole 150 mg/day • At which point during this treatment course would you start ARV?
Some OI drugs may have decreased blood levels due to increased metabolism: OI Drug Interactions (1)
Some OI drugs may have decreased blood levels due to decreased absorption: OI Drug Interactions (2)
Case Study, Phuong (1) • Phuong, a 25 year old woman with HIV comes to the OPC with recurrent fever and skin lesions • 2 months ago she was diagnosed with penicilliosis • She improved quickly after treatment with Itraconazole 200 mg twice daily
Case Study, Phuong (2) • Now, however, symptoms have returned • 4 weeks ago she started on ART (D4T, 3TC, NVP) • 2 weeks ago she decreased her Itraconazole dose to 200 mg daily for maintenance therapy • What are possible explanations for Phuong’s recurrent penicilliosis symptoms? • How might you manage this situation?
Key Points • For patient with an acute OI, start ART when patient is clinically stable and tolerating OI treatment • Patients with more advanced immunosuppression (CD4<250) should be started on ART as soon as possible (between 2-8 weeks) • Clinicians should be aware of potential interactions between OI drugs and ARV
Thank You Questions?