raltegravir-potassium and Hemophilia-A

When treating HIV-infected patients with hemophilia, adverse drug reactions and interactions and the effect of treatment on bleeding disorders must be considered. Raltegravir is the first HIV integrase inhibitor, but its use in patients with hemophilia is rarely reported. Nine HIV-positive patients with hemophilia were retrospectively studied with a focus on the virological response, changes in the CD4 count, the tendency to bleed, and the response to replacement therapy before and after raltegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). The nine patients were highly treatment-experienced patients and they received raltegravir-based ART for at least nine months. The patients had their own reasons for changing to raltegravir-based ART. During treatment, the CD4 count increased progressively in four patients, with a median absolute increase of 233 cells/mm(3), while the count stabilized in the remaining five patients. Two previous recipients of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) who failed to respond to lamivudine (3TC) + zidovudine (ZDV) + efavirenz (EFV) had a viral rebound. Genotyping indicated multidrug resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). A pattern of resistance to raltegravir was evident, including the primary mutation N155H and the secondary mutation T97A. In the two patients, the tendency to bleed decreased markedly and monthly usage of clotting factor VIII decreased significantly decreased. In the remaining seven patients, the viral load remained < 40 copies/mL, there was no evidence of an increased tendency to bleed, and no evidence of changes in the response to replacement therapy. All of the patients had a stable condition with no signs of disease progression and no serious adverse reactions. Results indicated that Raltegravir-based therapy offered a safe and well-tolerated option for HIV-positive patients with hemophilia.

Topics: Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Drug Resistance, Viral; Hemophilia A; HIV Infections; Humans; Integrases; Middle Aged; Mutation; Raltegravir Potassium; Treatment Outcome

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) of HIV+ patients with haemophilia poses specific questions on safety and effectiveness because of long-lasting HIV infection, multidrug resistance, concomitant chronic liver disease and bleeding risk. Raltegravir belongs to a new class of drugs that inhibits HIV integrase and is known to have a good effectiveness and safety profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and effectiveness of HAART with raltegravir in patients with haemophilia. HIV+ patients with haemophilia treated with raltegravir for ≥ 6 months were included in this retrospective study. Safety criteria were: occurrence of any adverse event, unexpected blood test abnormalities and increased consumption of coagulation factors. Effectiveness criteria were: no disease progression, viral load <40 HIV-RNA copies mL(-1) and increased or stable CD3+ CD4+ cell count above 200 cells cmm(-1). Seven patients with HCV co-infection underwent treatment with raltegravir for a median of 20 months (min-max: 7-30). Before starting treatment with raltegravir, three patients had CD3+ CD4+ cell counts <200 cells cmm(-1). The median viral load was 7547 copies mL(-1) (min-max: <40-37,807). During treatment, no new sign of disease progression was observed. All patients showed suppression of viral replication (<40 HIV-RNA copies mL(-1)). CD3+ CD4+ cell counts showed a median increase of 152 cells cmm(-1) (min-max: 40-525). Two patients suffered from peripheral neuropathy, which was deemed as possibly associated with raltegravir. There was no evidence of increased bleeding frequency, modification of bleeding sites and lack of response to replacement therapy. Raltegravir-based HAART appeared to be effective and generally well-tolerated in patients with haemophilia, and it might represent a useful option in these patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Disease Progression; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; Hemophilia A; HIV Infections; HIV Integrase Inhibitors; Humans; Italy; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrrolidinones; Raltegravir Potassium; Retrospective Studies; Viral Load; Young Adult

Topics: Hemophilia A; Hepatitis; HIV Infections; Humans; Middle Aged; Peritonitis; Pyrrolidinones; Radiography; Raltegravir Potassium