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Enfermería Global

On-line version ISSN 1695-6141

Enferm. glob. vol.20 n.61 Murcia Jan. 2021  Epub Feb 01, 2021

https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/eglobal.415971 

Originals

Efficacy and safety in real clinical conditions of Raltegravir in a reference hospital of peruvian social security

Rafael Pichardo-Rodriguez1  , Marcos Saavedra-Velasco1  2  , Fernando Mendo-Urbina2  , Carlos Muñoz-Medina1  , Saarah C Zegarra del Rosario-Alvarado3  , J Antonio Grandez-Urbina4 

1Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú

2Hospital Nacional “Edgardo Rebagliati Martins”-EsSALUD, Lima-Perú

3Universidad San Martin De Porres, Lima-Perú.

4Universidad Continental, Lima, Perú. jagrandez@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Rategravir belongs to integrase inhibitors, being demonstrated and approved by several clinical trials as a powerful and safe antiretroviral drug for the treatment of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with good tolerance and low toxicity, including in the third line or rescue scheme and it starts when the first and second lineas schemes have failed.

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety in real clinical conditions of the use of Raltegravir within the HAART schemes in patients with HIV infection in a reference hospital of social insurance in Peru.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study was performed in patients with a diagnosis of HIV infection who started treatment within the TARGA scheme based on Raltegravir with follow-up and control at 6 months. We presented summary measures of frequencies and percentages for the qualitative variables, as well as means and standard deviation for the quantitative variables based on the results of the normality tests. The data was processed and analyzed in the statistical software SPSS version 22.

Results:

The male gender was the most affected with 76% (n = 119) of the total. The most frequent age range was between 45 to 55 years (25.4%, n = 40). The most frequent comorbidities were Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, with exponential reduction in viral load and elevation of CD4 lymphocyte levels.

Conclusion:

Raltegravir is effective for the treatment of HIV patients.

Keywords: Anti-HIV drugs; HIV infections; raltegravi

INTRODUCTION

In October 2007, integrase inhibitors (Iint) were approved for the treatment of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with Raltegravir being the first of them1. This drug was shown in different phases of clinical trials to be safe and effective with a powerful antiretroviral action, more effective than protease inhibitors (PIs) 2.

Since its approval, Raltegravir has shown adequate safety and efficacy for the treatment of HIV infection, as well as good tolerance by patients regardless of gender and race 3. The toxicity and interaction with other anti-retroviral drugs are low because it is not metabolized within the cytochrome P450 system 2. However, among the adverse effects are metabolic alterations such as blood lipid disorders among others4.

According to the Peruvian technical standard, Raltegravir is included in the third-line or rescue therapy scheme and is started when the first and second-line highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) schemes have failed to control the disease 5.

A study accomplished in a social security referral center in Peru determined that the proportion of patients who respond adequately to the Raltegravir-based treatment scheme is high and safety is acceptable. Despite this, the information about its safety and efficacy in real clinical conditions and especially in our population is still limited, despite the experience obtained since its prescription began in our center in 2007.

The objective was to describe the efficacy and safety in real clinical conditions of the Raltegravir-based HAART regimens in a series of patients with HIV infection in a social security referral hospital in Peru.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Retrospective observational study in HIV-infected patients who received Raltegravir-based HAART with follow-up and control in the infectious disease service of the national hospital "Edgardo Rebagliati Martins" -EsSalud, Lima-Peru in 2018.

Selection criteria

Those patients with a diagnosis of HIV infection who started in our center HAART based on Raltegravir and who also had follow-up and control at 6 months were included. Those patients with incomplete, illegible, or unavailable medical records at the time of their request and those who did not have a viral load or CD4 studies during the months of follow-up, as well as incomplete complementary laboratory tests (serum glucose, serum lipids, blood complete and liver profile), were excluded.

Ethical aspects

The confidentiality of the data was kept and protected, all participants had the right to anonymity. No experiments were performed on the patients and the ethical principles for research in humans stipulated in the Declaration of Helsinki were followed.

Population and sample size

All those who started Raltegravir-based HAART and controls in the infectology service of our hospital were included.

The effectiveness of Raltegravir-based HAART was defined as the presence of a viral load <1000 copies/ml at 6 months (24 weeks) of treatment and safety as the presence of mild or absent adverse drug reactions. Additionally, the following clinical variables were analyzed: Sex, age, comorbidities, number of years with diagnosis, usual medication, reason for using Raltegravir, HAART regimen based on Raltegravir received, CD4 level, hemogram, liver profile, lipid profile, glycemia, and serum creatinine.

The data were collected from clinical records using a data sheet prepared based on the objectives of the study. Viral load was determined using the PCR method in the HIV Architec (Roche®) equipment. CD4 levels were measured by flow cytometry on the BDFACS Canto II equipment. The complete blood count and biochemical analyzes were processed in the SYSMEX 2000 and ADVIA 1800 equipment, respectively.

Follow-up time: From the start of treatment to 6 months (24 weeks).

Statistical analysis

Summary measures of frequencies and percentages were presented for the qualitative variables, as well as means and standard deviation for the quantitative variables based on the results of the normality tests. The data were processed and analyzed in the statistical software SPSS version 22.

RESULTS

A total of 216 clinical records were located, of which 59 were excluded for not having viral load or CD4 controls, finally including only 157 records.

The gender most affected was male, representing 76% (n = 119) of the total. The most frequent age range was between 45 to 55 years (25.4%; n = 40). The two most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension (24%; n = 14 and 17%; n = 10), with co-infection with hepatitis C being less frequent (2%; n = 1). Table 1 shows the general characteristics of the participants.

Table 1.  General characteristics of patients undergoing treatment with Raltegravir. 

Viral load decreased exponentially, from 23 patients who presented undetectable viral load at the start of treatment, it increased to 145 patients after 6 months of treatment (Figure 1). Similarly, CD4 lymphocyte levels increased after 6 months of treatment (Figure 2). Concerning safety, an increase in the number of cases of patients with elevated serum glucose and creatinine was found (Table 2).

Figure 1.  Efficacy of Raltegravir at 24 weeks of treatment 

Figure 2.  CD4 lymphocyte levels before and 6 months of treatment 

Table 2.  Effect of Raltegravir on viral load, CD4 level, blood count and biochemical 

Note: Hb: Hemoglobin; Cr: serum creatinine; TGO: Transglutaryl oxamia; TGP: Trasglutarioapeptidase; FA: alkaline phosphatase; BT: Total bilirubin; BD: direct bilirubin; BI: Indirect Bilirubin; HDL: High-density lipoprotein; LDL: Low-density lipoprotein.

DISCUSSION

The HAART regimens based on Raltegravir included in the study show a significant antiretroviral effect, which is reflected in the significant reduction in viral load at 6 months of treatment. Accordingly, various studies that have evaluated the efficacy of regimens based on this drug in real clinical conditions have shown high efficacy for virus control 4,6,7. However, the data is still limited, especially in our population8.

Malpartida et al, in a retrospective study accomplished in a reference hospital similar to ours, a virological response of 90% was found compared to the 77.7% found in our study 9. This difference is probably due to variables that we have not been able to control, nonetheless, it continues to represent a high efficacy for the control of the disease.

In a Mexican multi-center cohort, they evaluated the effectiveness and risk factors for the virological outcome of HAART regimens based on Raltegravir plus an optimized additional regimen in patients who had received HAART. High virological suppression rates were found at 48 weeks of treatment similar to ours. On the other hand, age over 40 years was associated with a good virological result with a significant effect size (Odds Ratio [OR]: 5.61; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 1.61- 18.84), however, the use of Tenofovir within the regimen was associated with a poor virological outcome (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.80) 7.

Similarly, in another, they evaluated the efficacy of Raltegravir-based HAART regimens under real-world clinical conditions in new and previously treated patients. The schemes showed adequate long-term efficacy. In both groups, virological suppression was obtained and maintained at 24 weeks of treatment in a high percentage and this suppression was maintained until the end of follow-up (48 weeks)8. It has also been observed that HAART regimens based on Raltegravir in patients over 60 years of age are safe and highly effective. Furthermore, in this population, it is associated with a reduction in triglyceride and platelet count 10. These results are consistent with what was reported in the different clinical trials carried out prior to their approval 2.

Based on all of them, regimens based on Raltegravir in real clinical practice show adequate efficacy for reducing viral load, a control with an important effect that can be observed 6 months after starting treatment. Its long-term use could have good tolerability and efficacy since it has been shown that long-term use continues to present adequate margins of safety and efficacy.

Regarding the safety margin, it is one of the best tolerated anti-retroviral drugs with limited adverse effects and minimal drug interactions 10. We report an increase in the number of cases of patients with elevated serum levels of serum glucose and creatinine. In contrast, in patients older than 60 years, a reduction in the triglyceride count and the number of platelets is observed 10. These changes in glycemia are probably due to the comorbidities that patients presented at the beginning of treatment. The most frequent comorbidity was diabetes mellitus and as there was no adequate control over its influence on laboratory results and follow-up, it may have been associated with alterations in the results observed in its controls.

Among the reasons for the use of Raltegravir, the most frequent was the failure of viral control by previously used HAART regimens.

Limitations

The most important limitation was the impossibility of controlling for a great variety of possible variables that intervened and that probably modified the patients' response to the drug. However, the exponential drop in viral load reveals the important antiretroviral effect of the drug, which appears to be independent of the effect of some additional variable.

CONCLUSION

HAART regimens based on Raltegravir in real clinical conditions are safe and effective for the control of HIV. This drug has a powerful antiretroviral action and the effects can be seen 6 months after starting treatment. It must be used rationally and prescribed with caution. This drug should be reserved for the most severe cases and with the failure of the first and second-line regimens.

Acknowledgements

To Dr. Fernando Mendo, for the approval, permits, and possibility of executing this work in the infectology service of the National Hospital "Edgardo Rebagliati Martins" -EsSalud

REFERENCES

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2. Gatell JM. Eficacia del raltegravir: desde los voluntarios sanos a la fase III. Enfermedades Infecc Microbiol Clínica. 2008;26:29-33. [ Links ]

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5. MINSA Resolucion Ministerial 2015-2018 MINSA -NTS N° 097-MINSA/DGSP-V.03 "Norma Técnica de Salud de Atención Integral del Adulto con Infección por el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana (VIH)". 2018 [ Links ]

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7. Mata-Marín JA, Smeke AEW, Rodriguez MR, ChávezGarcía- M, Banda-Lara MI, Rios AMP, et al. Effectiveness and Risk Factors for Virological Outcome of Raltegravir-Based Therapy for Treatment-Experienced HIV-Infected Patients. Drugs RD. 2017;17(1):225-31. [ Links ]

8. Jaeckle M, Khaykin P, Haberl A, De Leuw P, Schüttfort G, Stephan C, et al. Efficacy of raltegravir-containing regimens in antiretroviral-naïve and -experienced individuals in routine clinical practice. Int J STD AIDS. 2016;27(13):1170-9. [ Links ]

9. O Malpartida GP-L, J Collins, JL Magallanes, PA Castro, RA Castillo, JA Hidalgo, et al. Real-life use of raltegravir: experience from Hospital Guillermo Almenara, Essalud, Lima, Peru. Speaker Abstracts presentado en: HIV & Hepatitis in the Americas 19-21 April 2018; 2018; Mexico. [ Links ]

10. Pavone P, Giustini N, Fimiani C, Paoletti F, Falciano M, Salotti A, et al. Long-Term Treatment With Raltegravir is Associated with Lower Triglycerides and Platelets Count in the Older HIV+ Population: Results from the Ral-Age Study. Curr HIV Res. 2017;15(5):355-60. [ Links ]

Received: February 24, 2020; Accepted: July 24, 2020

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