Social Media Savvy, It's More Than Just the #Hashtags: How the Use of Social Media in Transplant Infectious Diseases Can Impact the Field and Patients.

Social media provides platforms for transplant infectious diseases (TIDs) clinicians to network, exchange ideas, and educate each other and the broader public. A #TxIDChat on the social media platform X was conducted on the perceptions of social media in TID by the account @TxID_Fellows. This article examines the current usage of social media by TID clinicians, and its role in education, patient outreach, and networking.

Efficacy of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide versus dolutegravir-based three-drug regimens in people with HIV with varying adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Five Phase 3 bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) clinical studies demonstrated that the efficacy of B/F/TAF was non-inferior to dolutegravir (DTG) + 2 NRTIs. We retrospectively assessed drug adherence and effect on virologic outcomes.

Methods: Studies (NCT02607930, NCT02607956, NCT03547908, NCT02603120 and NCT03110380) were double-blind, placebo-controlled and enrolled treatment-naïve or virologically suppressed adults.

Long-Acting Cabotegravir Plus Rilpivirine in People with HIV with Adherence Challenges and Viremia: Current Data and Future Directions.

Long-acting injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (LA CAB/RPV) is currently US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and HIV treatment guideline-endorsed as a switch strategy for patients with HIV (PWH) who are virologically suppressed on oral ART without a history of treatment failure. Recent changes to the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA) and U.S.

Management of Vulnerable Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 With Remdesivir: A Retrospective Comparative Effectiveness Study of Mortality in US Hospitals.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a major public health concern, with continued resurgences of cases and substantial risk of mortality for hospitalized patients. Remdesivir has become standard-of-care for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Given the continued evolution of the disease, clinical management of COVID-19 relies on evidence from the current endemic period.

Remdesivir-Associated Survival Outcomes Among Immunocompromised Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: Real-world Evidence From the Omicron-Dominant Era.

Background: Patients with immunocompromising conditions are at increased risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related hospitalizations and deaths. Randomized clinical trials provide limited enrollment, if any, to provide information on the outcomes in such patients treated with remdesivir.

Methods: Using the US PINC AI Healthcare Database, we identified adult patients with immunocompromising conditions, hospitalized for COVID-19 between December 2021 and February 2024.

Lower mortality risk associated with remdesivir + dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone for the treatment of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Background: Treatment guidelines were developed early in the pandemic when much about COVID-19 was unknown. Given the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, real-world data can provide clinicians with updated information. The objective of this analysis was to assess mortality risk in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 during the Omicron period receiving remdesivir+dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone.

Markers of Maternal Bone and Renal Toxicity Through 50 Weeks Postpartum: IMPAACT 2010 (VESTED) Trial.

Background: Safety data from randomized trials of antiretrovirals in pregnancy are scarce. We evaluated maternal bone and renal data from the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network 2010 trial, which compared the safety and efficacy of 3 antiretroviral therapy regimens started in pregnancy: dolutegravir + emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (DTG + FTC/TAF), dolutegravir + emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DTG + FTC/TDF), and efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV/FTC/TDF).

Methods: A subset of participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at postpartum week 50 only.

Lipid and glucose profiles in pregnant women with HIV on tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens have been associated with adverse changes in lipid and glucose profiles compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based ART, but data in pregnancy is limited. We evaluated metabolic markers in pregnant women with HIV after starting TAF- vs TDF-based ART.

Methods: We analyzed data within the IMPAACT 2010/VESTED trial, which demonstrated better pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women randomized to initiate TAF/Emtricitabine/Dolutegravir (TAF/FTC+DTG; n=217) or TDF/FTC+DTG (n=215).

Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir for Acute COVID-19 in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: There is limited evidence of association of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) and incidence of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the association of NMV-r in nonhospitalized, vaccinated patients with pre-existing CVD and occurrence of PASC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX research network, including vaccinated patients with pre-existing CVD who developed COVID-19 between December 2021 and December 2022.

Antiretrovirals and Weight Change: Weighing the Evidence.

Body weight is influenced by an interplay of individual and environmental factors. In people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), weight is also influenced by disease status with loss accompanying disease progression that is reversed with effective antiretroviral therapy. Weight changes in comparative antiretroviral therapy trials differ by regimen, with greater gains observed with the integrase strand transfer inhibitors dolutegravir and bictegravir, particularly when coadministered with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, compared with regimens that include agents such as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate that attenuate weight gain.

Weight Changes and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes With Dolutegravir- and Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate-Containing Antiretroviral Treatment Regimens During Pregnancy and Postpartum.

Background: We evaluated associations between antepartum weight change and adverse pregnancy outcomes and between antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens and week 50 postpartum body mass index in IMPAACT 2010.

Methods: Women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in 9 countries were randomized 1:1:1 at 14-28 weeks' gestational age (GA) to start dolutegravir (DTG) + emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) versus DTG + FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) versus efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF. Insufficient antepartum weight gain was defined using Institute of Medicine guidelines.

Coronary Microcirculatory Dysfunction in People With HIV and Its Association With Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: HIV infection and abacavir-containing antiretroviral regimens are associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk. Positron emission tomography (PET)-derived myocardial blood flow reserve (MBFR), the ratio of vasodilator stress to rest myocardial blood flow, is a well-validated measure of coronary microvascular health and marker of cardiovascular risk. Our objective was to compare MBFR among people with HIV (PWH) with matched non-HIV controls and to assess whether switching from dolutegravir/lamivudine/abacavir to the non-abacavir regimen bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) would improve MBFR.

Projected Benefits of Long-Acting Antiretroviral Therapy in Nonsuppressed People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Experiencing Adherence Barriers.

Background: In a demonstration project, long-acting, injectable cabotegravir-rilpivirine (CAB-RPV) achieved viral suppression in a high proportion of people with HIV (PWH) who were virologically nonsuppressed with adherence barriers. We projected the long-term impact of CAB-RPV for nonsuppressed PWH experiencing adherence barriers.

Methods: Using the Cost-Effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC) model, we compared 3 strategies: (1) standard of care oral integrase inhibitor-based ART (); (2) INSTI-based ART with supportive social services ("wraparound services" [WS]) (); and (3) CAB-RPV with WS ().

Oral Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Vaccinated, Nonhospitalized Adults Aged 18-50 Years.

Background: The effects of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r [Paxlovid]) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in younger vaccinated adults are unclear. The objective of this study was to assess if NMV/r use in vaccinated adults aged ≤50 years is associated with improved outcomes and to identify beneficial and nonbeneficial subgroups.

Methods: In this cohort study, we generated 2 propensity-matched cohorts of 2547 patients from an 86 119-person cohort assembled from the TriNetX database.

Associations of Muscle Density and Area With Coronary Artery Plaque and Physical Function.

Objective: Skeletal muscle quality and mass are important for maintaining physical function during advancing age. We leveraged baseline data from Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) to evaluate whether paraspinal muscle density and muscle area are associated with cardiac or physical function outcomes in people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: REPRIEVE is a double-blind randomized trial evaluating the effect of pitavastatin for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in PWH.

Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide as initial treatment for HIV-1: five-year follow-up from two randomized trials.

Background: Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) is a single-tablet regimen recommended for HIV-1 treatment. The safety and efficacy of B/F/TAF as initial therapy was established in two Phase 3 studies: 1489 (vs dolutegravir [DTG]/abacavir/lamivudine) and 1490 (vs DTG + F/TAF). After 144 weeks of randomized follow-up, an open-label extension evaluated B/F/TAF to 240 weeks.