Full reservoirs and poor adherence: two cases of symptomatic HIV cerebrospinal fluid escape with tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine/bictegravir

Abstract

Background: Symptomatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) escape is an uncommon presentation in people with HIV with undetectable or low-level HIV RNA while on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART). Only one case has been reported in a patient receiving bictegravir-based therapy so far.

Methods: We looked for patients presenting with neurological symptoms while on Tenofovir Alafenamide/Emtricitabine/Bictegravir and who were confirmed to have a CSF HIV RNA above plasma HIV RNA.

Results: One patient presented with confusion and cognitive changes; her plasma and CSF HIV RNA were 486 and 1400 copies/mL. In CSF but not plasma, next-generation sequencing identified resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (K70N at 22% and T215S at 92%) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (E138K at 18%). One patient presented with lower limb pain and weakness: his plasma and CSF HIV RNA were 7410 and 88000 copies/mL. No RAMs were found but biomarkers suggested intrathecal immune activation and neuronal damage. Intensification with doravirine led to suppression of plasma viremia within 3 months.

Conclusions: This case series suggests that symptomatic CSF escape is possible even with modern cART and that lumbar punctures may be needed in the presence of unexplained neurological/neuropsychological symptoms.

Keywords: CSF escape; bictegravir; integrase inhibitors.; replication.