Efficacy and tolerance of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients in Dakar: preliminary study

The authors had for aim to evaluate the clinical and immunological response as well as the tolerance to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients. A retrospective chart review was made from August 1998 to August 2004. 188 patients were on protease inhibitor based regimen. 153 (81.38%) were HIV-1 and 35 (18.62%) HIV-2 infected patients. The mean weight gain was significantly higher in the HIV-2 group at months 9 and 12 (P=0.02 et P=0.01 respectively), whereas CD4 cells count gain was higher in the HIV-1 group at month 6 (P=0.004). New AIDS defining criteria are less likely to occur in HIV-2 infected patients on HAART than in HIV-1 (P=0.004). Lipodystrophy syndrome was present only in HIV-1 infected patients. Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients shows similar clinical and immunological efficacy than in HIV-1 infected ones and is also well tolerated.