Virological outcomes and metabolic effects after switching from ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors to a dolutegravir-based regimen in virologically suppressed patients living with HIV

Background A ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen can cause abnormal lipid levels and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Switching to a dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen has been shown to improve blood lipid levels, but data in the Thai population are limited. Method A prospective cohort study was conducted at Srinagarind Hospital between April 28, 2021, and April 30, 2022. Patients were eligible if they (1) were over 18 years of age, 2) had received a ritonavir-boosted PI-based regimen for at least three months, and 3) had documented plasma HIV RNA levels below 50 copies/mL within six months before the enrollment. All eligible patients included in the study switched from a ritonavir-boosted PI-based ART regimen to a DTG-based regimen. The primary outcome was changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from baseline to week 24. Results Forty-six eligible patients were enrolled, 71.7% of whom were male, with a mean age of 49.4 years. Mean body weight was 62.7 kg and body mass index (BMI) was 22.86 kg/m2. The majority of patients had been on a regimen of boosted atazanavir (ATV/r; 60.9%), followed by boosted lopinavir (LPV/r; 37.0%). Six patients were withdrawn from the study. At week 24 after switching to DTG, LDL-C was significantly lower than at baseline, with a difference of −15.1 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI; −23.3 to −6.8]; p-value < 0.001), as were total cholesterol and triglycerides, with differences of −22.1 mg/dL (95% CI [−33.3 to −10.8]; p-value <0.001) and −67.7 mg/dL, (95% CI [−88.3 to −47.0]; p-value 0.001), respectively. There were no significant changes in body weight (0.51 kg; 95% CI [−0.37 to 1.38]; p-value 0.251) or BMI (0.17 kg/m2; 95% CI [−0.14 to 0.48]; p-value 0.284) from baseline to week 24. In addition, 39 of 40 patients (97.5%) maintained virological suppression (HIV RNA <50 copies/mL), with only one patient (2.5%) developing virological failure. Three grade 3 adverse events were observed. Conclusion Switching from a boosted PI-based ART regimen to a DTG-based regimen in people living with HIV/AIDS who had attained prior virological suppression resulted in a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, but did not increase the patient’s body weight at 24 weeks of follow-up. Furthermore, the DTG-based regimen was also highly effective in maintaining virological suppression. Trial Registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR20210625004.