Efficacy of First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Jaipur: Predictive role of CD4+T cell count and Viral load count.

Abstract Background: ART has helped in managing the fatal HIV/AIDS with the easy accessibility of effective antiretroviral drugs which helps in maintaining the cellular immunity by inhibiting viral replication in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Routinely monitoring parameters from an early stage {i.e. baseline CD4+T cell count and Viral load count with follow up at every 3 and 6 months respectively} was beneficial in finding the incidence of drug resistance at an early stage. Thus, by determining the efficacy of first line ART also assisted us in predicting drug resistance among PLHIV using CD4+T cells and Viral load as parameters, considering all variables in the study (socio demographic variables, OI, mode of transmission, history of patient etc.) Aims & Objectives: To predict drug resistance through CD4+T cell and viral load for first line ART in tertiary care facilities in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Results: Among 300 participants, 65.33% participants achieved Viral load suppression and hence categorized as TND their CD4+T cell count was found >200 cell/µl, 12% participants appeared to fall in the category of LLV with viral load falling in between 50-999 copies/ml and CD4+T cell count <200 cell/µl, 22.67% participants were still found to persist detectable viral load (VL ≥1000 copies/ml) with CD4+T cell count <200 cell/µl viral failure. Conclusion: Persistent Viral load in LLV patients (50-999 copies/ml) and viral load ≥1000 copies/ml in viral failure patients indicates unsuppressed viral load, viral failure and prevalence of drug resistance at an early stage.