Prevalence, incidence and predictors of severe anaemia with zidovudine-containing regimens in African adults with HIV infection within the DART trial
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International Medical Press
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Objective: To describe the prevalence, incidence and predictors of severe anaemia in previously untreated symptomatic HIV-infected adults with CD4+ T-cells <200 cells/mm3 initiating zidovudine-containing regimens in Africa. Design: DART is a randomized trial comparing two strategies for HIV/AIDS management in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Methods: We analysed the occurrence of anaemia at weeks 4 and 12, and then every 12 weeks. We also evaluated sex, age, WHO stage, body mass index (BMI), baseline laboratory measurements and first regimen as predictors of developing grade 4 anaemia (<6.5 mg/dl) by week 48 using logistic regression. Results: To May 2005, 3,314 participants (65% women, 23% at WHO stage 4, median age=37 years, baseline CD4+ T-cell=86 cells/mm3 and median baseline haemoglobin= 11.4 g/dl) had a median 72 weeks follow-up. Prevalence of grade 4 anaemia was 0.7%, 2.0%, 0.5% and <0.5% at weeks 4, 12, 24 and ≥36, respectively. Overall, 219 (6.6%) participants developed grade 4 anaemia by week 48; women and those with lower haemoglobin, CD4+ T-cell count and BMI at baseline were at significantly higher risk (P<0.05), but not those with lower neutrophils or receiving cotrimoxazole at baseline. Conclusions: We observed a higher incidence of grade 4 anaemia than in studies from industrialized countries, which is likely to be due in part to population characteristics and in part to a higher rate of concurrent HIV-related clinical events. Clinical vigilance and haemoglobin measurements 4, 8 and 12 weeks after starting zidovudine could help to manage serious anaemia.
The DART trial is funded by the UK Medical Research Council, the UK Department for International Development, and the Rockefeller Foundation. First-line drugs are provided by GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead and Boehringer Ingelheim.
The DART trial is funded by the UK Medical Research Council, the UK Department for International Development, and the Rockefeller Foundation. First-line drugs are provided by GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Keywords
Anaemia, T-cells, CD4+ cell count, HIV/AIDS, Uganda, HIV-infected adults