Design and implementation of a prospective cohort study of persons living with and without HIV infection who are initiating medication treatment for opioid use disorder

BACKGROUND: Opioid use disorder (OUD) negatively impacts the HIV continuum of care for persons living with HIV. Medication treatment for OUD (MOUD) may have differential biological effects in individuals with HIV and OUD. To address the question of modulation of immune responses by MOUDs, we describe state of the art systems biology approaches to carry out the first prospective, longitudinal study of persons with and without HIV infection with OUD initiating MOUD. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of persons with DSM-5 diagnosed OUD who are living with and without HIV infection and initiating treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is underway to assess biological effects of these medications on immunobiological outcomes. RESULTS: We describe the recruitment, laboratory, and statistical methods of this study as well as the protocol details. Of those screened for enrollment into the study, 468 (36%) were eligible and 135 were enrolled thus far. Retention through month 6 has been high at 80%. CONCLUSIONS: This study will use state of the art systems biology approaches to carry out the first prospective, longitudinal studies of persons living with and without HIV with DSM-5 OUD initiating treatment with MOUD.