CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF DOLUTEGRAVIR-BASEDANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of transitioning from Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Efavirenz (TLE) to Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir (TLD) as the primary antiretroviral therapy for HIV management. A retrospective analysis was performed on 261 patients, comprising 116 individuals who commenced TLD as first-line therapy in 2020 and 145 individuals who initially received TLE in 2017 prior to transitioning to TLD in 2020. Both clinical and non-clinical dimensions were analyzed. Viral load (VL), CD4 cell count, and WHO clinical stage constituted the clinical variables. Age, sex, weight, transmission method, and body mass index (BMI) were non-clinical factors. Both groups exhibited substantial alterations in weight, viral load, and CD4 count (p < 0.001***). The two groups exhibited minimal disparity, evidenced by the median BMI of patients initiating TLD at 20.83 (IQR 18.95–23.87; p = 0.115, ns) and those transitioning from TLE to TLD at 21.63 (IQR 19.62–24.37; p = 0.004**). TLD is advantageous for HIV treatment as it typically enhances clinical outcomes and sustains viral suppression when incorporated into the ART regimen.