EuroSIDA shows HIV-HCV coinfected patients more likely to stop HAART because of side effects

HIV-HCV coinfected patients are more likely than HIV-positive people without hepatitis C, to stop their first HAART regimen because of toxicities or patient/doctor choice, according to a EuroSIDA study carried out by Mocroft and colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital, London.

They looked at 1052 patients starting HAART since 1999 and found that one year after starting treatment, 65% remained on their original regimen, 28% had made a change and 7% had stopped all treatment. The incidence of stopping treatment decreased over time at the rate of 18% per year.

The main decline was among those people who stopped treatment because of toxicities and patient/doctor choice. Patients with HCV had a higher incidence of stopping treatment for these reasons than those without HCV. The authors write that managing adverse events must remain “a key intervention” in maintaining HAART in patients with hepatitis C coinfection.

Mocroft A, Phillips A, Soriano V et al. Why do patients stop antiretrovirals used as part of an initial HAART regimen? Results from the EuroSIDA group. 7th ICDTHI,14-18 Nov, 2004, Glasgow. Abstract PL14.1.