Initiation of antiretroviral therapy before 6 months of age is associated with faster growth recovery in South African children perinatally infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

摘要: Objective To describe the effects of age at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation on growth outcomes among children infected with HIV followed for 48 months after treatment initiation. Study design This secondary analysis describes anthropometric changes in Johannesburg, South Africa who initiated ritonavir-boosted lopinavir-based ART before 24 and were randomized to continue lopinavir or receive nevirapine achieving maintaining virologic suppression. Weight, height, head circumference measured visits over post-ART Growth patterns including weight-for-age z-scores (WAZs), height-for-age z-scores, body mass index-for-age z-score compared between initiating Results A total 195 (mean ± SD 10.7 ± 5.9 months), 54 (27.7%) P  = .084) (1.24 vs 0.45,  = .004) than 12-24 age. By ART, similar, regardless WAZ approached population norms by 12 ART. Although improving, remained average 1.0 below therapy. Conclusions Initiation 6 results more rapid recovery HIV. These data provide further evidence importance prompt diagnosis early infants