Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jun 25;14(7):633.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens14070633.

CD4/CD8 Ratio Increase in Female Living with HIV Switching to Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine: A Real-Life 24 Weeks Evaluation

Serena Spampinato  1   2 , Emmanuele Venanzi Rullo  2 , Giuseppe Nicolò Conti  1   2 , Andrea De Vito  3 , Andrea Marino  1 , Teresa Cirelli  1 , Viviana Coco  1 , Alessia Mirabile  1 , Rossella Fontana Del Vecchio  4 , Antonina Franco  4 , Arturo Montineri  5 , Chiara Frasca  5 , Chiara Gullotta  1   2 , Michele Salvatore Paternò Raddusa  1   2 , Ylenia Russotto  2 , Aakash Fugooah  1   2 , Sarah Pulvirenti  1   2 , Sonia Sofia  6 , Grazia Pantò  6 , Claudia Calì  7 , Roberto Bruno  1 , Eugenia Pistarà  1   2 , Nunziatina Villari  1 , Carmelo Iacobello  6 , Bruno Cacopardo  1 , Benedetto Maurizio Celesia  1 , Giovanni F Pellicanò  2 , Francesco P Antonucci  8 , Giordano Madeddu  3 , Sergio Lo Caputo  8 , Giuseppe Nunnari  1
Affiliations

CD4/CD8 Ratio Increase in Female Living with HIV Switching to Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine: A Real-Life 24 Weeks Evaluation

Serena Spampinato et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

In 2022, 20 million women globally were living with HIV, yet they remain underrepresented in clinical trials, including those for antiretroviral treatments (ART). This study assesses the safety and efficacy of the long-acting cabotegravir-rilpivirine (CAB-RPV) regimen in a cohort of 54 women living with HIV (WLWH) over 24 weeks. A retrospective cohort study from the Sardinian HIV Network and Sicilian HIV Cohort (SHiNe-SHiC) included WLWH who switched to CAB-RPV. Primary objectives were achieving and maintaining HIV RNA levels <50 copies/mL at 24 weeks. Secondary objectives included treatment safety, durability, and reasons for discontinuation. Data on demographics, viro-immunological markers, lipid profiles, and treatment interruptions were analyzed. Of 54 WLWH, 46 reached 24 weeks. The median age was 50 years. A total of 71.8% transitioned from dolutegravir (DTG) regimens. Virological suppression was 97.8% at baseline and 95.5% at 24 weeks. Significant increases in the CD4/CD8 ratio (p = 0.0076) and decreases in serum creatinine levels (p = 0.0109) were observed. Cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT, and AST levels remained unchanged. The CAB-RPV regimen demonstrated significant virological and immunological efficacy and safety in women living with HIV over 24 weeks. Notably, the improvement in the CD4/CD8 ratio and the increase in the percentage of women achieving target not detected (TND) status highlight the regimen's effectiveness. These findings emphasize the importance of gender-focused research in HIV treatment and the need for equitable access to effective treatment options for women, which is crucial for global efforts to eliminate HIV.

Keywords: CD4/CD8 ratio; Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine; HIV; long acting.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of patients in virological categories among timepoints.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of CD4/CD8 ratio between the two timepoints.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison between serum creatinine levels between the two timepoints.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. UNAIDS UNAIDS Data 2022. [(accessed on 20 May 2025)]. Available online: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2023/2022_unaids_data.
    1. WHO Global HIV Programme. [(accessed on 17 May 2025)]. Available online: https://www.who.int/teams/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes/hiv/s....
    1. Mody A., Sohn A.H., Iwuji C., Tan R.K.J., Venter F., Geng E.H. HIV Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Implementation Strategies for Public Health. Lancet. 2024;403:471–492. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01381-8. - DOI - PubMed
    1. UNAIDS . Fact Sheet 2024—Latest Global and Regional HIV Statistics on the Status of the AIDS Epidemic. UNAIDS; Geneva, Switzerland: 2024.
    1. Raffe S., Sabin C., Gilleece Y. Comorbidities in Women Living with HIV: A Systematic Review. HIV Med. 2022;23:331–361. doi: 10.1111/hiv.13240. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources