Multicenter study of skin rashes and hepatotoxicity in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-positive patients receiving non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors in Taiwan

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 21;12(2):e0171596. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171596. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Objectives: Two nucleos(t)ide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus 1 non-NRTI (nNRTI) remain the preferred or alternative combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive patients in Taiwan. The three most commonly used nNRTIs are nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV) and rilpivirine (RPV). This study aimed to determine the incidences of hepatotoxicity and skin rashes within 4 weeks of initiation of cART containing 1 nNRTI plus 2 NRTIs.

Methods: Between June, 2012 and November, 2015, all antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive adult patients initiating nNRTI-containing cART at 8 designated hospitals for HIV care were included in this retrospective observational study. According to the national HIV treatment guidelines, patients were assessed at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks of cART initiation, and subsequently every 8 to 12 weeks. Plasma HIV RNA load, CD4 cell count and aminotransferases were determined. The toxicity grading scale of the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) 2014 was used for reporting clinical and laboratory adverse events.

Results: During the 3.5-year study period, 2,341 patients initiated nNRTI-containing cART: NVP in 629 patients, EFV 1,363 patients, and RPV 349 patients. Rash of any grade occurred in 14.1% (n = 331) of the patients. In multiple logistic regression analysis, baseline CD4 cell counts (per 100-cell/μl increase, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.125; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.031-1.228) and use of NVP (AOR, 2.443; 95% CI, 1.816-3.286) (compared with efavirenz) were independently associated with the development of skin rashes. Among the 1,455 patients (62.2%) with aminotransferase data both at baseline and week 4, 72 (4.9%) developed grade 2 or greater hepatotoxicity. In multiple logistic regression analysis, presence of antibody for hepatitis C virus (HCV) (AOR, 2.865; 95% CI, 1.439-5.704) or hepatitis B surface antigen (AOR, 2.397; 95% CI, 1.150-4.997), and development of skin rashes (AOR, 2.811; 95% CI, 1.051-7.521) were independently associated with the development of hepatotoxicity.

Conclusions: The baseline CD4 cell counts and use of NVP were associated with increased risk of skin rashes, while hepatotoxicity was independently associated with HCV or hepatitis B virus coinfection, and development of skin rashes in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-positive Taiwanese patients within 4 weeks of initiation of nNRTI-containing regimens.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Anti-HIV Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / enzymology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / epidemiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Disease Management
  • Drug Eruptions / epidemiology
  • Drug Eruptions / etiology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleosides / adverse effects*
  • Nucleosides / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • Viral Load
  • Viremia / drug therapy*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Nucleosides
  • RNA, Viral
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan (MOHW104-CDC-C-114-000301 to C.H.).