Abstract
To compare adherence and clinical outcome with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in intravenous drug users (IDUs) and subjects with other HIV risk behaviours (non-IDUs). A total of 133 non-naive HIV-infected patients, 95 (71%) IDUs and 38 (29%) non-IDUs received triple drug therapy with stavudine, lamivudine, and indinavir. Adherence, side effects, and immunological and virological efficacy of treatment were assessed every 3 months. During a median follow-up of 12 months, 43 patients (32% of the total) showed adequate adherence in all clinical appointments. Adherence was superior in non-IDUs than in IDUs in every visit, but a significant difference was found only at 6 months, when 22 (58%) non-IDUs versus 37 (39%) IDUs were adherent (P = 0.047). Mildly increased bilirubin was observed in 69 (52%) patients, and renal colic in 34 (26%). No difference in side effects was found between IDUs and non-IDUs. After 6 months of treatment, 35 (43%) participants presented a CD4 cell count increase >100x10(6)/l, and 47 (58%) achieved undetectable HIV RNA (lower limit of detection: 200 copies/ml). CD4 cell count and HIV RNA responses were similar in both groups. Adherence to the employed HAART regimen was poor. Non-IDUs were more adherent than IDUs, but the difference between both groups was small. Side effects and efficacy were similar in IDUs and non-IDUs.
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