Machado, CarmenRíos-Villegas, María JoséGálvez-Acebal, JuanDomínguez-Castellano, AngelFernández-Cuenca, FelipePalomo, VirginiaMuniain, Miguel AngelRodríguez-Baño, Jesús2014-04-042014-04-042012-10-24Machado C, Ríos-Villegas MJ, Gálvez-Acebal J, Domínguez-Castellano A, Fernández-Cuenca F, Palomo V, et al. Long-term outcome of patients after a single interruption of antiretroviral therapy: a cohort study. BMC Res Notes. 2012; 5:578http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1571Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND To describe the long term outcome of patients who interrupted highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) once, identify the variables associated with earlier need to re-start HAART, and the response when therapy was resumed. A retrospective observational cohort of 66 adult patients with HIV-1 infection who interrupted HAART with a CD4+cell count ≥ 350 cells/μL and undetectable viral load (VL) was performed. The pre-established CD4+ cell count for restarting therapy was 300cells/μL. Cox regression was used to analyse the variables associated with earlier HAART reinitiation. RESULTS The median follow-up was 209 weeks (range, 64-395). Rates of HIV-related or possible HIV-related events were 0.37 (one case of acute retroviral syndrome) and 1.49 per 100 patient-years, respectively. Two patients died after re-starting therapy and having reached undetectable VL. Three patients suffered a sexually transmitted disease while off therapy. Fifty patients (76%) resumed therapy after a median of 97 weeks (range, 17-267). Age, a nadir of CD4+ <250 cells/μL, and a mean VL during interruption of >10,000 copies/ml were independent predictors for earlier re-start. The intention-to-treat success rate of the first HAART resumed regimen was 85.4%. There were no differences by regimen used, nor between regimens that were the same as or different from the one that had been interrupted. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest highly active antiretroviral therapy may be interrupted in selected patients because in these patients, when the HAART is restarted, the viral and clinical response may be achieved.enHIV-1Antiretroviral therapyTreatment interruptionOutcomeCohort studyFármacos anti-VIHTratamiento antirretrovírico de gran actividadPauta de administración medicamentosaInfecciones por VIHEstudios retrospectivosResultado del tratamientoMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Therapeutic Uses::Anti-Infective Agents::Antiviral Agents::Anti-Retroviral Agents::Anti-HIV AgentsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Drug Therapy, Combination::Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Drug Administration ScheduleMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::RNA Virus Infections::Retroviridae Infections::Lentivirus Infections::HIV InfectionsMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Middle AgedMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Case-Control Studies::Retrospective StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Prognosis::Treatment OutcomeMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adultresearch article23095460open access10.1186/1756-0500-5-5781756-0500PMC3532099