Original Research

High rate of virological re-suppression among patients failing second-line antiretroviral therapy following enhanced adherence support: A model of care in Khayelitsha, South Africa

D B Garone, K Conradie, G Patten, M Cornell, W Goemaere, J Kunene, B Kerschberger, N Ford, A Boulle, G van Cutsem
Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine | Vol 14, No 4 | a52 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v14i4.52 | © 2013 D B Garone, K Conradie, G Patten, M Cornell, W Goemaere, J Kunene, B Kerschberger, N Ford, A Boulle, G van Cutsem | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 December 2013 | Published: 22 November 2013

About the author(s)

D B Garone, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
K Conradie, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
G Patten, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
M Cornell, Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
W Goemaere, South African Medical Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
J Kunene, Ubuntu Clinic, Provincial Department of the Western Cape, South Africa
B Kerschberger, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
N Ford, Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Ubuntu Clinic, Provincial Department of the Western Cape, South Africa; Médecins Sans Frontières, Geneva, Switzerland
A Boulle, Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
G van Cutsem, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Objective. To describe and evaluate the outcomes of a support programme for patients with virological failure while receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa.

Method. We described a comprehensive medical and counselling patient support programme for patients receiving secondline ART and with two consecutive viral loads (VLs) >1 000 copies/ml. Patients with >3 months follow-up and at least one VL measurement after inclusion in the programme were eligible for analysis.

Results. Of 69 patients enrolled in the programme, 40 had at least one follow-up VL and no known drug resistance at enrolment; 27 (68%) of these re-suppressed while remaining on second-line ART following enhanced adherence support. The majority (18/27; 67%) achieved re-suppression within the first 3 months in the programme. Five patients with diagnosed second-line drug resistance achieved viral re-suppression (<400 copies/ml) after being switched to third-line ART. Seven patients (7/40; 18%) did not achieve viral re-suppression after 9 months in the programme: 6 with known adherence problems (4 without drug resistance on genotype) and 1 with a VL <1 000 copies/ml. Overall, 3 patients (4%) died, 3 (4%) were lost to follow-up and 2 (3%) were transferred out.

Conclusion. Our experience from a routine programme demonstrates that with targeted adherence support, the majority of patients who were viraemic while receiving second-line ART returned to an undetectable VL within 3 months. By increasing the time receiving second-line ART and decreasing the need for genotypes and/or third-line ART, this intervention may reduce costs.


Keywords

second-line ART; failure; virological re-suppression; antiretroviral therapy

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