Dolutegravir combined anti-retroviral agents as second-line drugs and virologic suppression of adults with HIV in Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti - case series

Abstract

The transition to dolutegravir (DTG)-combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART) as a preferred option in both first- and second-line for all populations was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to encouraging safety data for women and adolescent girls during the peri-conception period. This case series aimed at determining the viral suppression of adults with HIV on Dolutegravir combined anti-retroviral agents as second-line drugs. Four clients' viral suppression were observed from ART initiation to switching to second line and later transiting to the DTG-combined regimen and the findings was that clients A and B, who were transitioned to the DTG-combined regimen had superior viral suppression by three months when compared to clients C and D who were switched to second line. The case series supports the WHO recommendation that the DTG-based regimen is the preferred first- and second-line switch ART regimen in HIV management, in achieving faster viral load suppression than any other regimen.

Keywords: Dolutegravir; antiretroviral therapy; case series; transition.