Beneficial and Detrimental Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy on HIV-Associated Immunosenescence

Chemotherapy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ornella Franzese ◽  
Maria Luisa Barbaccia ◽  
Enzo Bonmassar ◽  
Grazia Graziani

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy more than 2 decades ago, HIV-related deaths have dramatically decreased and HIV infection has become a chronic disease. Due to the inability of antiretroviral drugs to eradicate the virus, treatment of HIV infection requires a systemic lifelong therapy. However, even when successfully treated, HIV patients still show increased incidence of age-associated co-morbidities compared with uninfected individuals. Virus- induced immunosenescence, a process characterized by a progressive decline of immune system function, contributes to the premature ageing observed in HIV patients. Although antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved both the quality and length of patient lives, the life expectancy of treated patients is still shorter compared with that of uninfected individuals. In particular, while antiretroviral therapy can contrast some features of HIV-associated immunosenescence, several anti-HIV agents may themselves contribute to other aspects of immune ageing. Moreover, older HIV patients tend to have a worse immunological response to the antiviral therapy. In this review we will examine the available evidence on the role of antiretroviral therapy in the control of the main features regulating immunosenescence.

Author(s):  
John Jospeh Diamond Princy ◽  
Kshetrimayum Birendra Singh ◽  
Ningthoujam Biplab ◽  
Ningthoukhongjam Reema ◽  
Rajesh Boini ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a state of profound immunodeficiency. Disorders of hematopoietic system are a common but often overlooked complication of HIV infection. This can manifest at any stage of the disease but more commonly in the advanced stage with low CD4 count. Anemia is the most common hematological abnormality in HIV patients and prevalence ranges from 1.3 to 95%. As HIV disease progresses, the prevalence and severity of anemia also increase. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the hematological parameters of HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at different treatment durations with the hope to improve the HAART outcome in HIV patients and its correlation with CD4 count. Methods This prospective longitudinal study enrolled 134 HIV-infected patients admitted to or attending the OPD in the Department of Medicine or Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Center (Center of Excellence), Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur, from 2018 to 2020. Complete hemogram, CD4 count, and other related-blood investigations were studied. Results The mean age of the study population was 39.9 ± 11.04 years. Of the 134 patients, 75 (56%) were males and 59 (44%) were females. Twelve (9%) patients had a history of injecting drug use (IDU). TLE (tenofovir, lamivudine, efavirenz) regimen was started on 112 (83.6%) patients and the majority of them (69/134 [51.5%]) had a CD4 count of 200 to 499 cells/mm3, which increased significantly 6 months after HAART to 99 to 1,149 cells/mm3, with a mean of 445 ± 217 cells/mm3. There were significant improvements in hemoglobin (Hb) levels, total leukocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) after HAART indicating a positive correlation with CD4 count (p < 0.05). Thrombocytopenia was observed higher after HAART when compared to baseline. There was a positive correlation between platelet count and CD4 count. However, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) had a negative correlation with CD4 count. Conclusion The study inferred a strong positive correlation between CD4 and Hb levels, TLC, ANC, ALC, and platelet count after HAART with improvement in these values as CD4 count increases. Specific treatment intervention based on the changes in the immunohematological profile trends can help prevent most of the adverse effects on HIV patients in our community.


2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
A F Oleynik ◽  
V Kh Fazylov

The main component of the treatment of patients with HIV infection is highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which can help to control the disease. The main goal of HAART is to increase the life duration and to maintain the quality of patients’ life. Improved survival among HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy is achieved mainly by a decrease of HIV RNA viral load, which increases CD4 lymphocytes count. However, some patients may present with discordant response to treatment, when there is no CD4 lymphocyte count elevation associated with the virus disappearing from the blood. Such patients retain immunodeficiency, despite long-term treatment. The risk of opportunistic infections on the background of insufficient immunological response, despite viral replication suppression, is higher than in patients with good immunological response to treatment. Consistently low CD4 cell counts are associated with an increased risk of AIDS diagnosis. Furthermore, this group of patients shows a slight increase in mortality not associated with AIDS-defining illnesses. The reasons for the low CD4 lymphocytes count increase in some patients achieving virologic response to HAART remain unclear. The immunological efficacy of treatment depends on many factors: baseline CD4 count, duration of HIV infection prior to HAART initiation, age, co-infection with HCV, presence of secondary diseases and comorbidities, HAART regimens, IL-2 use and others. Literature review covers the phenomenon of immunological «non-response» to HAART, factors leading to its development, and possible methods of correction. Currently, there are more questions than answers in the area of immunological non-effectiveness of HAART in HIV-infected patients.


Author(s):  
Prof. Xu Yancheng ◽  
Salama A. ALI ◽  
Ass. Prof Chen Xiaoqi

The emergence of a new HIV infected elderly population as a result of chronic use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has attributed to the increase of metabolic disorders particularly insulin resistance(IR) and diabetes, dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy.The pathogenesis of these metabolic derangements is complex and multifactorial and could be a consequence of an interplay between traditional age-related risk factors, HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy effects, the inflammatory effect and immune activation in this population. IR in HIV infection has numerous causes which include not only the direct effects of antiretroviral drugs but also factors such as aging and restoration to health accompanied by fat accumulation. Studies have shown that insulin levels increase over time with antiretroviral therapy, likely the result of improved health, fat accumulation, and aging, and that increases in visceral fat and upper trunk fat are associated with a higher risk of IR in HIV infected and uninfected individuals. Since metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD) increase with aging, knowledge of the optimal management of these conditions is essential for practitioners caring for HIV infected patients including endocrine subspecialists. This review aims to synthesize the current knowledge on insulin resistance and dysregulation of glucose on treated HIV population


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