Dolutegravir response in antiretroviral therapy naïve and experienced patients with M184V/I: Impact in low-and middle-income settings.

BACKGROUND

Dolutegravir (DTG) is now recommended to all HIV infected adults, adolescents, and children of right age by WHO. The low cost of $75 per year for generic DTG-based combination, has allowed 3.9 million people living with HIV (PLWH) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) access to DTG. Lamivudine and emtricitabine associated M184V/I mutation is highly prevalent in PLWH and the majority of HIV infected individuals receiving DTG regimens may already be carrying M184V/I mutation.

DISCUSSION: Despite high prevalence of M184V/I in antiretroviral therapy (ART) experienced patients, DTG treatment outcomes will likely not be adversely affected by this mutation. The use of DTG in ART naïve has been largely characterised by rare emergence of resistance and virological failure. DTG-based regimens have to great extent been effective at maintaining viral suppression in treatment experienced PLWH carrying M184V/I.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating patients on DTG may help preserve more treatment options for HIV infected individuals living in LMICs. High genetic barrier to the development of resistance associated with DTG and progressive viral suppression in patients switched to DTG-based therapy with M184V/I, may encourage better DTG outcomes and help in curbing increasing levels of HIV drug resistance in LMICs.