Antiretroviral use in Italian children with perinatal HIV infection over a 14-year period

Background: Information on the use of new antiretroviral drugs in children in the real setting of clinical fields is largely unknown. Methods: Data from 2554 combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimens administered to 911 children enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV infection in children, between 1996 and 2009, were analysed. Factors potentially associated with undetectable viral load and immunological response to cART were explored by Cox regression analysis. Results: Proportion of protease inhibitor (PI)‐based regimens significantly decreased from 88.0% to 51.2% and 54.9%, while proportion on non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)‐based regimens increased from 4.5% to 38.8% and 40.2% in 1996–1999, 2000–2004 and 2005–2009, respectively (p