Long-term Effects of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy on HIV-Infected Children

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected children are often given HAART to reduce HIV-associated disease. The long-term effects and toxicities associated with this chronic therapy in children are unknown, but severe cardiotoxicity has been suggested in animal models. DESIGN NARRATIVE: The P2C2 HIV-infected pediatric cohort received non-HAART regimens in various intensities. Yet, this cohort has exhibited persistent and significant depression of LV contractility compared to uninfected children (after 5 years of follow-up). These same echocardiographic measures have proven to be independently predictive of mortality. Most of the children in the WITS HIV-infected pediatric cohort have been exposed to HAART at varying times and at varying regimen intensities. By assessing LV structure and function, with the same echocardiographic protocol in the WITS cohort as was used previously in the P2C2 cohort, the study will be able to determine the incremental effects of HAART and non-HAART regimens on LV structure and function. The study will also test the hypothesis that HAART exposure results in impaired mitochondrial function that results in cardiomyopathy. This will be assessed by comparing the parameters of LV structure and function that define cardiomyopathy to the frequency of mitochondrial DNA mutations in cells from these same patients. A nested-case-control study design of mitochondrial mutations will be used to assess the relationship between HAART, mitochondrial compromise, and LV structure and function. Treatment intensity for both HAART and non-HAART regimens will be captured through a cumulative score based on an existing 8-point ordinal scale. Intensity will be measured at three points in time: 1) in utero; 2) during the first year of life; and 3) after the first year of life. Analysis of the longitudinal echocardiographic and mitochondrial data will provide valuable information about dose intensity and the comparative impact of HAART versus less aggressive drug regimens. It will also provide information on the impact of therapy during different stages of child development. Similar longitudinal data on viral load and duration of HIV will enable the investigators to control for the effects of HIV infection on cardiovascular toxicity. The findings will help determine the need for cardiovascular follow-up, prevention, and therapeutic trials.