Patients shifting from an oral regimen to injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine demonstrated a significant improvement in total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a recent retrospective cohort study; however, there were no significant changes in inflammatory biomarkers.
Long-acting cabotegravir plus rilpivirine, administered via injection into the gluteus muscle, has a higher satisfaction rate compared to antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related inflammation. There is a lack of data pertaining to changes in inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profiles in patients after switching to cabotegravir plus rilpivirine.
This retrospective cohort study compared lipid profiles, C-reactive protein, and CD4/CD8 ratios before and after patients switched to an injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine regimen. The findings are published in the journal AIDS Research and Therapy.
Baseline Characteristics
Of the total of 78 participants included in the study, 42 were assigned to the tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-based regimen, and 32 were assigned to the dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen. Except for CD8 cell counts, the two groups did not have statistically significant differences at baseline.
Changes in Inflammation Biomarkers
There were no significant changes in the levels of C-reactive protein in the participants combined and in the DTG-based and TAF-based groups. There were no significant changes in the CD4/CD8 ratio in all participants combined. At month 3, the CD4 counts and CD8 counts decreased significantly, whereas CD4 counts also decreased significantly at month 7 in all participants combined. For participants in the DTG-based regimen group, the CD4 counts and CD8 counts significantly decreased at month 3.
Changes in Lipid Profiles
There was a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a significant decrease in total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in all participants after switching to the cabotegravir plus rilpivirine regimen. However, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not change.
Source:
Adachi, E., Saito, M., Otani, A., Koga, M., & Yotsuyanagi, H. (2024). Brief communications: changes in inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profiles after switching to long-acting cabotegravir plus rilpivirine. AIDS Research and Therapy, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-023-00590-4
