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Treatment outcomes and paving the way for an HIV cure in Low and Middle Income Countries

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(Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash)

This AIDS Research and Therapy thematic series, edited by Dr Eric Arts, Dr Nicaise Ndembi and Dr Denis Tebit, covers the ways treatment outcomes can be improved along the way to a HIV cure in states defined as low and middle income countries (LMICs) by the WHO.

Discussion of HIV treatment outcomes in LMICs has historically been neglected, even though it is in these countries that a cure is most crucial. Of course, a cure for any HIV infected individual is equally critical but as many of you are witnessing, even a low rate of first line treatment failures in LIMCs has a devastating impact for the long term outcome of these patient,s as well as the efficacy of first line treatments in newly infected, naive patients.

Treatment failure also presents an incredible burden - financially and in human terms - on the health care infrastructure in LIMCs. There are currently over 22 million people  on treatment, without a significant decrease in new infections even though there has been a decrease in overall mortality.  In the near-medium term,  it is probable that there will soon be 40+ million on life-long treatment costing over $60 billion a year. Based on this fact alone, a cure is of significant importance in LIMC which are beholden of support from the HIC for the programs set up by PEPFAR and UNAIDS.

View all collections in AIDS Research & Therapy.

  1. Zambia recently achieved UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets for HIV epidemic control; however, inpatient facilities continue to face a large burden of patients with advanced HIV disease and HIV-related mortalit...

    Authors: Nyuma Mbewe, Michael J. Vinikoor, Sombo Fwoloshi, Mundia Mwitumwa, Shabir Lakhi, Suilanji Sivile, Mallika Yavatkar, Brianna Lindsay, Kristen Stafford, Lottie Hachaambwa, Lloyd Mulenga and Cassidy W. Claassen
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2022 19:10
  2. Infant antiretroviral prophylaxis has an important role in reduction of Human immune virus transmission from mother to child during the postpartum period. Male partner involvement was considered as a priority ...

    Authors: Tamirat Melis and Yohannes Fikadu
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2022 19:8
  3. Anti-retroviral therapy regimen discontinuations become a big challenge and cause diminishing the clinical and immunological benefit of treatment in Ethiopia. It reduces both the duration and the chance of vir...

    Authors: Tewodros Getnet Amera, Kassawmar Angaw Bogale and Yibekal Manaye Tefera
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:93
  4. Programmes that merge management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) aim to improve HIV/TB co-infected patients’ access to comprehensive treatment. However, several reports from sub-Sah...

    Authors: Benjamin Momo Kadia, Christian Akem Dimala, Noah T. Fongwen and Adrian D. Smith
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:85
  5. Viral suppression prevents HIV transmission and disease progression, but socio-economic and clinical factors can hinder the goal of suppression. We evaluated factors associated with viral non suppression (VNS)...

    Authors: Dean W. Ortíz, Olivia Roberts-Sano, Hugo E. Marroquin, Lindsey Larson, Katherine B. Franco, Andrej Spec, Johanna R. Melendez, Rodolfo Pinzón, Ana J. Samayoa, Carlos Mejia-Chew and Jane A. O´Halloran
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:79
  6. Introduction of tenofovir (TDF) plus lamivudine (3TC) and dolutegravir (DTG) in first- and second-line HIV treatment regimens in South Africa warrants characterization of acquired HIV-1 drug resistance (ADR) m...

    Authors: Benjamin Chimukangara, Richard J. Lessells, Lavanya Singh, Indra Grigalionyte, Nonhlanhla Yende-Zuma, Rochelle Adams, Halima Dawood, Linda Dlamini, Sibonisile Buthelezi, Sheldon Chetty, Karidia Diallo, Wayne A. Duffus, Mary Mogashoa, Melissa B. Hagen, Jennifer Giandhari, Tulio de Oliveira…
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:74
  7. The growing burden of the HIV and non-communicable disease (NCD) syndemic in Sub- Saharan Africa has necessitated introduction of integrated models of care in order to leverage existing HIV care infrastructure...

    Authors: Blessings Gausi, Natacha Berkowitz, Nisha Jacob and Tolu Oni
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:72
  8. Achieving undetectable viral load is crucial for the reduction of HIV transmissions, AIDS-related illnesses and death. Adolescents (10 to19 years) living with HIV (ALHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) have...

    Authors: Emeka F. Okonji, Brian van Wyk, Ferdinand C. Mukumbang and Gail D. Hughes
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:66
  9. We estimated the predictive effects of ART-related perceptions on the actual ART uptake behavior among ART naïve PLWH stratified by different time of HIV diagnosis under the new strategy.

    Authors: Tinglong Yang, Xueying Yang, Linghua Li, Huifang Xu, Lirui Fan, Quanmin Li, Xiaoyan Fan, Weiyi Chen, Xuan Du, Chun Hao, Jinghua Li, Yuantao Hao and Jing Gu
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:59
  10. There is a growing recognition of the impact of gender and the social determinants of health on the clinical course of people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, the relative contribution of these factors to cli...

    Authors: Phyo Pyae Nyein, Eithandee Aung, Ne Myo Aung, Mar Mar Kyi, Mark Boyd, Kyaw Swar Lin and Josh Hanson
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:50
  11. Failure on second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) with protease inhibitor (PI) mutations (VF-M) is on the rise. However, there is a paucity of information on the factors associated with this observation in l...

    Authors: Hellen Musana, Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba, Mary Nakafeero, Henry Mugerwa, Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, David Serwadda and Francis Ssali
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:17
  12. Progress toward the global target for 95% virological suppression among those on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is still suboptimal. We describe the viral load (VL) cascade, the incidence of virological failur...

    Authors: Anita Mesic, Alexander Spina, Htay Thet Mar, Phone Thit, Tom Decroo, Annick Lenglet, Moe Pyae Thandar, Thin Thin Thwe, Aung Aung Kyaw, Tobias Homan, Mitchell Sangma, Ronald Kremer, Jane Grieg, Erwan Piriou, Koert Ritmeijer, Josefien Van Olmen…
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:16
  13. There is limited evidence on the modification or stopping of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens, including novel antiretroviral drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the discontinuation of first ART ...

    Authors: Volkan Korten, Deniz Gökengin, Gülhan Eren, Taner Yıldırmak, Serap Gencer, Haluk Eraksoy, Dilara Inan, Figen Kaptan, Başak Dokuzoğuz, Ilkay Karaoğlan, Ayşe Willke, Mehmet Gönen and Önder Ergönül
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:4
  14. Pediatric tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and TB-HIV co-infection are health problems with evidence-based diagnostic and treatment algorithms that can reduce morbidity and mortality. Imp...

    Authors: W. Chris Buck, Hanh Nguyen, Mariana Siapka, Lopa Basu, Jessica Greenberg Cowan, Maria Inês De Deus, Megan Gleason, Ferreira Ferreira, Carla Xavier, Benedita Jose, Criménia Muthemba, Beatriz Simione and Peter Kerndt
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:3
  15. South Africa, with one of the highest HIV prevalences in the world, introduced the universal test and treat (UTT) programme in September 2016. Barriers to sustained viral suppression may include drug resistanc...

    Authors: Pascal O. Bessong, Nontokozo D. Matume and Denis M. Tebit
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2021 18:1
  16. Diagnosis of people living with HIV (PLHIV) is the first step toward achieving the new Fast Track Strategy to end AIDS by 2030: 95-95-95. However, reaching PLHIV is especially difficult in resource-limited set...

    Authors: Mohammad Pour, Linda James, Kamlendra Singh, Samuel Mampunza, Franklin Baer, JoAnna Scott, Michael G. Berg, Mary A. Rodgers, Gavin A. Cloherty, John Hackett Jr and Carole P. McArthur
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:67
  17. Analytical treatment interruptions (ATI) are commonly used clinical endpoints to assess interventions aimed at curing HIV or achieving antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free HIV remission. Understanding the accepta...

    Authors: Jillian S. Y. Lau, Miranda Z. Smith, Brent Allan, Cipriano Martinez, Jennifer Power, Sharon R. Lewin and James H. McMahon
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:65
  18. A substantial number of persons living with HIV (PLWH) in Nigeria do not experience durable viral suppression on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Understanding risk factors for first-line treatment fai...

    Authors: Nicaise Ndembi, Fati Murtala-Ibrahim, Monday Tola, Jibreel Jumare, Ahmad Aliyu, Peter Alabi, Charles Mensah, Alash’le Abimiku, Miguel E. Quiñones-Mateu, Trevor A. Crowell, Soo-Yon Rhee, Robert W. Shafer, Ravindra Gupta, William Blattner, Manhattan E. Charurat and Patrick Dakum
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:64
  19. AIDS-related KS generally involves cutaneous lesions, that slowly progress over months to years. Neither rapidly progressing of KS nor KS complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) has rarely been reported.

    Authors: Pingzheng Mo, Liping Deng, Xiaoping Chen, Yong Xiong and Yongxi Zhang
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:58
  20. HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) is universally accepted as an innovative strategy complimenting existing HIV testing services to archive the UNAIDS, 95-95-95 goals by 2030. However, the adoption of HIVST is lagging i...

    Authors: Proches Arobogast Vara, Luyeye Sostenes Buhulula, Fatma Aziz Mohammed and Bernard Njau
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:56
  21. It is well known that people living with HIV (PLWH) is in higher risk for the development of depression and it has also been suggested that the use of efavirenz into the antiretroviral regimens increases even ...

    Authors: Alejandro Checa, Alberto Castillo, Malena Camacho, William Tapia, Isabel Hernandez and Enrique Teran
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:47
  22. To evaluate the impact of AIDS-defining events (ADE) on long-term mortality of HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART), a retrospective HIV/AIDS treatment cohort study performed in Southwester...

    Authors: Yunxuan Huang, Oulu Zhou, Zhigang Zheng, Yuexiang Xu, Yi Shao, Chunwei Qin, Fengxiang Qin, Jingzhen Lai, Huifang Liu, Rongfeng Chen, Li Ye, Hao Liang, Xionglin Qin and Junjun Jiang
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:44
  23. Early detection of viremia in HIV infected patients on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is important to prevent disease progression as well as accumulation of drug resistance mutations. This makes HIV viral load ...

    Authors: Ashwini Shete, Sampada Dhayarkar, Ashwini Dhamanage, Smita Kulkarni, Manisha Ghate, Shashikala Sangle, Uttam Medhe, Vinita Verma, Shobini Rajan, Toshio Hattori and Raman Gangakhedkar
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:43
  24. Antiretroviral treatment has played a pivotal role in the reduction of HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. However, treatment options can be impaired by the development of antiretroviral treatment failur...

    Authors: Jemberu Nega, Solomon Taye, Yihenew Million, Chaturaka Rodrigo and Setegn Eshetie
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:39
  25. Long acting and permanent contraceptive methods by far are the most effective, very safe and convenient methods than short acting contraceptive methods. But in less developed countries, use of long acting reve...

    Authors: Betselot Yirsaw, Feleke Gebremeskel, Gebrekiros Gebremichael and Tewoderos Shitemaw
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:34
  26. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of AIDS-associated Talaromyces marneffei infection, a rare but a fatal mycosis disease of the central nervous system, remain unclear.

    Authors: Yu-Ye Li, Rong-Jing Dong, Samip Shrestha, Pratishtha Upadhyay, Hui-Qin Li, Yi-Qun Kuang, Xin-Ping Yang and Yun-Gui Zhang
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:26
  27. Through universal “test and treat approach” (UTT) it is believed that HIV new infection and AIDS related death will be reduced at community level and through time HIV can be eliminated. With this assumption th...

    Authors: Tadele Girum, Fedila Yasin, Abebaw Wasie, Teha Shumbej, Fitsum Bekele and Bereket Zeleke
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:19
  28. The high rate of mortality among HIV-vertically infected adolescents might be favoured by HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) emergence, which calls for timeous actions in this underserved population. We thus sought t...

    Authors: Joseph Fokam, Armanda Nangmo, Carlson Wandum, Desire Takou, Maria Mercedes Santoro, Anne-Esther Njom Nlend, Francis Ndongo Ateba, Paul Koki Ndombo, Nelly Kamgaing, Cedric Kamta, Andre Essiane, Virginie Lambo, Charles Fokunang, Dora Mbanya, Vittorio Colizzi, Carlo-Federico Perno…
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:14
  29. Antiretroviral adherence is essential to HIV treatment efficacy. Various self-reported measures are commonly used for assessing antiretroviral adherence. Limited data are available regarding the validity of th...

    Authors: Quan Zhang, Xiaoming Li, Shan Qiao, Zhiyong Shen and Yuejiao Zhou
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:8
  30. Expanded access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) throughout sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade has remarkably improved the prognosis of persons living with HIV (PLWH). However, some PLWH exper...

    Authors: Ernest Ekong, Nicaise Ndembi, Prosper Okonkwo, Patrick Dakum, John Idoko, Bolanle Banigbe, James Okuma, Patricia Agaba, William Blattner, Clement Adebamowo and Manhattan Charurat
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:7
  31. For migrant female sex workers (FSWs) at the Sino-Vietnamese border, the impact of work time in their current location on the spread of HIV/AIDS is not clear.

    Authors: Yu Zhang, Bingyu Liang, Deping Liu, Guangwu Wei, Shide Mo, Aidan Nong, Chuanyi Ning, Yanyan Liao, Junjun Jiang, PeiJiang Pan, Yuan Yang, Ning Zang, Dinh Vanphu, Nguyen Van, Li Ye, Hao Liang…
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:4
  32. Despite advances in the treatment quality of HIV throughout the world, several countries are still facing numerous obstacles in delivering HIV treatment at a sufficiently high quality, putting patients’ lives ...

    Authors: S. Jespersen, F. Månsson, J. Lindman, C. Wejse, C. Medina, Z. J. da Silva, DdS Te, P. Medstrand, J. Esbjörnsson and B. L. Hønge
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:3
  33. Dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) is currently the first-line treatment for people living with HIV. Neuropsychiatric adverse events (NP-AEs) have been reported with DTG but neuropsychiatric...

    Authors: Phillip Chan, Orlanda Goh, Eugène Kroon, Donn Colby, Carlo Sacdalan, Suteeraporn Pinyakorn, Peeriya Prueksakaew, Peter Reiss, Jintanat Ananworanich, Victor Valcour, Serena Spudich and Robert Paul
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2020 17:1
  34. After the launching of the « Test & Treat » strategy and the wider accessibility to viral load (VL), evaluating virological success (VS) would help in meeting the UNAIDS targets by 2020 in Cameroon.

    Authors: Joseph Fokam, Samuel Martin Sosso, Bouba Yagai, Serge Clotaire Billong, Rina Estelle Djubgang Mbadie, Rachel Kamgaing Simo, Serge Valery Edimo, Alex Durand Nka, Aline Tiga Ayissi, Junie Flore Yimga, Désiré Takou, Sylvie Moudourou, Marinette Ngo Nemb, Jean-Bosco Nfetam Elat, Maria-Mercedes Santoro, Carlo-Federico Perno…
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:36
  35. Against the current global trends, in the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries HIV prevalence is on the rise. Visa-free movement across borders has facilitated migrant-associated HIV transmission within this re...

    Authors: Aidana Amangaldiyeva, Salima Davlidova, Bauyrzhan Baiserkin, Natalya Dzissyuk, Jack DeHovitz and Syed Ali
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:35
  36. Expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to improved HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes in Nigeria, however, increasing rates of loss to follow-up among those on ART is threatening optimal standard achie...

    Authors: Ahmad Aliyu, Babatunde Adelekan, Nifarta Andrew, Eunice Ekong, Stephen Dapiap, Fati Murtala-Ibrahim, Iboro Nta, Nicaise Ndembi, Charles Mensah and Patrick Dakum
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:30
  37. As antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs expand access, there is an increase in burden to a healthcare system. These results are reduced provider-patient contact time and poor programmatic and patient outcomes...

    Authors: Ahmad Aliyu, Samer El-Kamary, Jessica Brown, Bruce Agins, Nicaise Ndembi, Gambo Aliyu, Jibreel Jumare, Babatunde Adelekan, Patrick Dakum, Alash’le Abimiku and Manhattan Charurat
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:29
  38. A negative status following confirmatory Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) is the desired pediatric outcome of prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs. EID impacts epidemic control by confirming...

    Authors: Patrick Dakum, Monday Tola, Nta Iboro, Chukwuemeka A. Okolo, Olachi Anuforom, Christopher Chime, Sam Peters, Jibreel Jumare, Obinna Ogbanufe, Aliyu Ahmad and Nicaise Ndembi
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:27
  39. Thailand has the highest prevalence of HIV among countries in Asia but has also been a pioneer in HIV prevention and treatment efforts in the region, reducing the incidence of new infections significantly over...

    Authors: Camilla Muccini, Trevor A. Crowell, Eugène Kroon, Carlo Sacdalan, Reshmie Ramautarsing, Pich Seekaew, Praphan Phanuphak, Jintanat Ananworanich, Donn J. Colby and Nittaya Phanuphak
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:25
  40. Two HIV virus types exist: HIV-1 is pandemic and aggressive, whereas HIV-2 is confined mainly to West Africa and less pathogenic. Despite the fact that it has been almost 40 years since the discovery of AIDS, ...

    Authors: Joakim Esbjörnsson, Marianne Jansson, Sanne Jespersen, Fredrik Månsson, Bo L. Hønge, Jacob Lindman, Candida Medina, Zacarias J. da Silva, Hans Norrgren, Patrik Medstrand, Sarah L. Rowland-Jones and Christian Wejse
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:24
  41. Brazil is a low-and-middle income country (LMIC) that, despite having a large population and continental dimensions, has been able to successfully fight HIV/AIDS through a number of governmental and societal m...

    Authors: Adele S. Benzaken, Gerson F. M. Pereira, Lendel Costa, Amilcar Tanuri, André F. Santos and Marcelo A. Soares
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:19
  42. People living with HIV (PLHIV) constantly need to address social issues such as the cost of accessing care, stigma, and lack of social support which impacts on their level of adherence to clinic visits or anti...

    Authors: Babatunde Adelekan, Nifarta Andrew, Iboro Nta, Asabe Gomwalk, Nicaise Ndembi, Charles Mensah, Patrick Dakum and Ahmad Aliyu
    Citation: AIDS Research and Therapy 2019 16:17