Rate of Accumulation of Thymidine Analogue Mutations in Patients Continuing to Receive Virologically Failing Regimens Containing Zidovudine or Stavudine: Implications for Antiretroviral Therapy Programs in Resource-Limited Settings

Background. Because changes in antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings (RLSs) are delayed until patients experience immunological or clinical failure, it is important to be able to estimate the consequences in terms of accumulation of thymidine analogue ( TA) mutations (TAMs). Methods. The study included patients in EuroSIDA with >= 2 available genotypic resistance tests (GRTs) ( human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] RNA level, 1500 copies/mL in any measure between tests), provided that the first GRT was performed after the first virological failure of a TA and that the same TA was continued until the second GRT. Results. At the time of the first GRT in a pair (t0), 1 year after virological failure, a median of 3 TAMs were detected, mutations 41L and 215Y in 65% of pairs and 67N in 52%. Overall, 126 TAMs were accumulated during 548 person-years of follow-up (PYFUs) (1/4.3 years; 95% confidence interval, 3.7-5.0 years). Greater predicted activity of the TA at t0, TAM profile 2 (TAM2; vs TAM profile 1 [TAM1]) profiles at t0, use of a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) at t0 (vs combined NNRTI and protease inhibitor), and acquisition of HIV infection through heterosexual ( vs homosexual) contacts were associated with a faster rate of TAM accumulation. Conclusions. Although the estimated rate of TAM accumulation was lower than anticipated, all possible efforts should be continued to increase the availability of drug options in RLSs.