Discordant Impact of HLA on Viral Replicative Capacity and Disease Progression in Pediatric and Adult HIV Infection.

HLA class I polymorphism has a major influence on adult HIV disease progression. An important mechanism mediating this effect is the impact on viral replicative capacity (VRC) of the escape mutations selected in response to HLA-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses. Factors that contribute to slow progression in pediatric HIV infection are less well understood.

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and acceptability of planned treatment interruptions in HIV-infected children.

There have been no paediatric randomised trials describing the effect of planned treatment interruptions (PTIs) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on adherence, or evaluating acceptability of such a strategy. In PENTA 11, HIV-infected children were randomised to CD4-guided PTIs (n = 53) or continuous therapy (CT, n = 56). Carers, and children if appropriate, completed questionnaires on adherence to ART and acceptability of PTIs.

Adherence and acceptability of once daily Lamivudine and abacavir in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infected children.

Background: Data on adherence to and acceptability of once daily lamivudine and abacavir are few.

Methods: Twenty-four U.K.

Plasma pharmacokinetics of once- versus twice-daily lamivudine and abacavir: simplification of combination treatment in HIV-1-infected children (PENTA-13).

Background: There are few data on plasma and intracellular pharmacokinetics (PK) of once-daily (q24h) nucleoside analogues in HIV-infected children.

Methods: Children aged 2-13 years receiving combination treatment containing lamivudine (3TC) (4 mg/kg) and/or abacavir (ABC) (8 mg/kg) twice daily (q12h) were included in this single-arm, open-label, crossover study. Intensive plasma PK sampling was performed at steady state, after which children switched to q24h dosing and PK sampling was repeated 4 weeks later.