Prevalence and response to antiretroviral therapy of non-B subtypes of HIV in antiretroviral-naive individuals in British Columbia

• Published in: Antiviral therapy 2002-03, Vol.7 (1), p.31-35
• Main Authors: ALEXANDER, Christopher S, MONTESSORI, Valentina, WYNHOVEN, Brian, DONG, Winnie, CHAN, Keith, O'SHAUGHNESSY, Michael V, MO, Theresa, PIASECZNY, Magda, MONTANER, Julio S. G, HARRIGAN, P. Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - virology; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Drug Resistance, Viral - genetics; Female; HIV-1 - classification; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Viral Load
• ISSN: 1359-6535; 2040-2058
• DOI: 10.1177/135965350200700104

In North America, the B subtype of the major group (M) of HIV-1 predominates. Phylogenetic analysis of HIV reverse transcriptase and protease sequences isolated from 479 therapy-naive patients, first seeking treatment in British Columbia between June 1997 and August 1998, revealed a prevalence of 4.4% non-B virus. A range of different subtypes was identified, including one subtype A, 11 C, two D, five CRF01_AE, and one sample that could not be reliably subtyped. Baseline CD4 courts were significantly lower in individuals harbouring the non-B subtypes (P = 0.02), but baseline viral loads were similar (P = 0.80). In this study, individuals infected with non-B variants did not have a significantly different virological response to therapy after up to 18 months.