Improved Survival of HIV-1-Infected Patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Receiving Early 5-Drug Combination Antiretroviral Therapy
2011

Improved Survival of HIV-1-Infected Patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Receiving Early 5-Drug Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Sample size: 28 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gasnault Jacques, Costagliola Dominique, Hendel-Chavez Houria, Dulioust Anne, Pakianather Sophie, Mazet Anne-Aurélie, de Goer de Herve Marie-Ghislaine, Lancar Rémi, Lascaux Anne-Sophie, Porte Lydie, Delfraissy Jean-François, Taoufik Yassine

Primary Institution: Service de Médecine Interne et de Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Universitaire de Bicêtre - Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

Hypothesis

Does early use of a five-drug combination antiretroviral therapy improve survival in HIV-1-infected patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy?

Conclusion

The early use of five-drug cART after PML diagnosis appears to improve survival.

Supporting Evidence

  • The one-year survival estimate was 0.75.
  • At month 12, 81% of patients had undetectable plasma HIV RNA.
  • JCV DNA was undetectable in the CSF of 81% of survivors at month 6.
  • Higher total and naive CD4+ T-cell counts were associated with better survival.
  • JCV-specific functional memory CD4+ T-cell responses increased from 4% at baseline to 43% at month 12.

Takeaway

This study found that giving a special treatment to HIV patients with a brain disease can help them live longer.

Methodology

A multicenter, open-label pilot trial evaluating the survival benefit of a five-drug cART designed to accelerate HIV replication decay and JCV-specific immune recovery.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to the open-label design.

Limitations

The study was not randomized and had a small sample size.

Participant Demographics

All participants were HIV-1 infected patients diagnosed with active PML.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.008

Confidence Interval

0.61 to 0.93

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0020967

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication