Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Lipid and Biomarker Differences between Raltegravir and Atazanavir/Ritonavir at 48 Weeks in the Raltegravir Atazanavir Naïve (RAN) Study

Abstract

Tanvir Bell, Martine Diez, Xiaoying Yu, Chi Nguyen and Claudia Kozinetz

Raltegravir and Atazanavir/ritonavir are potent first line therapeutic options for HIV treatment naïve patients. We studied raltegravir (RAL) or atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) both with tenofovir/emtricitabine in a predominantly African American indigent patient population in Houston, Texas. Results from 17 patients at 48 weeks (wk); 9 in the RAL group and 8 in the ATV/r group were available for analyses. We evaluated CD4+ count, CD4%, HIV RNA viral load (VL) levels, and lipid profile at wk 0, 6, 14, 30, and 48. IL-6 and homocysteine levels were available at wk 0 and 48. Among the lipid panel between the 2 groups, triglycerides became statistically significantly lower in the raltegravir group at 14 weeks and persisted at a lower level through 48 wk. There were no significant differences in CD4+ cell count, CD4%, log VL, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, IL-6, and homocyseine levels. Both RAL and ATV/r in combination with tenofovir/emtricitabine provide similar immunologic and virologic efficacy. There was a slight difference observed in changes in triglyceride levels but other lipid changes were similar. IL-6 and homocystine levels changed to a similar degree with these potent antiretroviral regimens.