Efficacy of nevirapine-based HAART in HIV-1-infected, treatment-naive persons with high and low baseline viral loads

Purpose: The objective of this analysis was to assess the efficacy of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-containing, protease inhibitor (PI)-sparing, three-drug highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-1-infected, treatment-naive patients with high and low baseline viral loads. Method: A composite analysis was performed of clinical studies including the NNRTI nevirapine that were presented at international conferences between 1998 and October 2000. In all of the studies, nevirapine was administered in combination with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). For a study to be included in the analysis, more than 25% of participants must have had baseline viral loads > 100,000 copies/mL, and more than 25% of participants must have had viral loads < 100,000 copies/mL. Results: After 6 months, 139 of 156 (89%) and 82 of 99 (83%) patients in the low and high baseline viral load groups, respectively, had on-treatment viral loads <200 to 500 copies/mL (depending on assay used). After 12 months, 95 of 124 patients (77%) with lower baseline viral loads and 63 of 76 patients (83%) with high baseline viral loads had on-treatment viral loads below the limit of quantification. Conclusion: Baseline viral load does not affect virologic outcome in HIV-1-infected, antiretroviral-naive participants treated with nevirapine-containing, PI-sparing HAART.