Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Effect of Coadministration of Etonogestrel Implant and Antiretroviral Therapies Containing Efavirenz or Lopinavir/Ritonavir on the Metabolism of Women Living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Tatiana R Rocha Prandini, Maria Valeria Bahamondes, Milena B Brito, Eliana Amaral, Luis Bahamondes, Geraldo Duarte, Silvana M Quintana, Rui A Ferriani and Carolina Sales Vieira

Background: Concomitant use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and hormonal contraceptives should be safe for women while maintaining medication efficacy without causing significant immunological or metabolic changes. However, the metabolic effect of the concomitant use of etonogestrel (ENG)-releasing implant and commonly used ARTs is not known. Objective: To evaluate the effect of coadministration of ENG-releasing implant and ARTs containing lopinavir/ ritonavir or efavirenz on the metabolic parameters of women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods: This is an open, prospective, non-randomized exploratory study. Forty-five women who sought to receive the ENG contraceptive implant were selected, including 15 non-ART users, 15 zidovudine/lamivudine (AZT/3TC)+lopinavir/ritonavir users and 15 AZT/3TC+efavirenz users for at least 3 months. Clinical and metabolic parameters were assessed before, during and 24 weeks after implant insertion. Results: At 24 weeks after ENG implant insertion, the group without ART showed a 4.7% increase in albumin level (p=0.03), a 6.2% decrease in total cholesterol level (p=0.03) and a 5.6% increase in alkaline phosphatase level (p<0.01), whereas the lopinavir/ritonavir group showed a 12.5% increase in aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.03). The efavirenz group showed a 12.9% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (p=0.03). The other results showed no significant changes during the 24 week study. The observed changes remained within the normal values for the parameters. Conclusion: Co-administration of ENG implant with ARTs containing lopinavir/ritonavir or efavirenz is not associated with clinically relevant metabolic changes in women living with HIV infection/AIDS, after a 6 month followup period.