Long-term safety and effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir in antiretroviral-experienced HIV-1-infected children

Aim: To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in a population-based cohort of HIV-1-infected children. Methods: All children enrolled in the Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study, treated with LPV/r-based combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) between November 2000 and October 2008, were included. Results: 88 children (25 (28%) protease inhibitor (PI)-naive, 16 (18%) ART-naive) were analysed (251 patient-years on LPV/r). After 48 weeks on LPV/r, 70 children had a median (interquartile range (IQR)) decrease in HIV-1 viral load of 4.25 log (5.45-3.17; PI-naive, n=17) and 2.53 (3.68-1.38; PI-experienced, n=53). Median (IQR) increase in CD4 count was 429 (203-593; PI-naive) and 177 (21-331; PI-experienced) cells/μl. These effects remained stable throughout 192 weeks for 25 children. Treatment was stopped for viral rebound in seven and suspected toxicity in 12 children. Conclusion: Long-term treatment with LPV/r-based cART is safe and effective in HIV-1-infected children.