Clinical Improvement by Switching to an Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor in Hemophiliac Patients with HIV: The Japan Cohort Study of HIV Patients Infected through Blood Products

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine improvement in HIV RNA levels and the CD4 cell count by switching to an antiretroviral regimen with an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) in patients with HIV. METHOD: This study was conducted on Japanese patients with HIV who were infected by blood products in the 1980s. Data were collected between 2007 and 2014. Data of 564 male hemophiliac patients with HIV from the Japan Cohort Study of HIV Patients Infected through Blood Products were available. Changes in antiretroviral regimen use, HIV RNA levels, and the CD4 cell count between 2007 and 2014 were examined. RESULTS: From 2007 to 2014, the proportion of use of a regimen with an INSTI increased from 0.0% to 41.0%. For patients with HIV who used a regimen, including an INSTI, the proportion of HIV RNA levels <50 copies/mL significantly increased from 58.3% in 2007 to 90.6% in 2014. Additionally, the median CD4 cell count significantly increased from 380/μL to 438/μL. CONCLUSION: There is a large effect of switching to an antiretroviral regimen with an INSTI for Japanese patients with HIV who are infected by blood products. This suggests that performing this switch in clinical practice will lead to favorable effects.