Development of HIV drug resistance in a cohort of adults on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania during the stavudine era

Abstract

As more HIV patients start combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is inevitable. This will have consequences for the transmission of HIVDR, the success of ART, and the nature and trend of the epidemic. We recruited a cohort of 223 patients starting or continuing their first-line cART in Tanzania during the stavudine era in 2010. Patients were then followed up for one year. From those with a viral load test at baseline and follow-up time, 34% were failing virologically at the one-year endpoint. From 41 patients, protease and reverse transcriptase genotyping were successful. Eighteen samples were from therapy-naïve patients and 23 samples were taken under therapy either baseline for patients already under cART at study entry, or follow-up sample. The isolates were mostly subtype A, followed by C and D at 41.5%, 22% and 12.2% of the patients, respectively. No transmitted HIVDR was detected, as scored using the surveillance drug resistance mutations (DRMs) list. However, in 3 of the 18 samples from therapy-naïve patients, the clinical Rega interpretation algorithm scored 44D or 138A as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance-associated polymorphisms. The most observed nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutation was 184V. The mutation was found in 16 patients causing resistance to lamivudine and emtricitabine. Nineteen patients had NNRTI resistance mutations, the most common of which was 103N observed in 8 patients. These high levels of resistance calls for regular drug resistance surveillance in Tanzania to control the emergence and transmission of HIVDR.