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Growth in children infected with HIV receiving anti‐retroviral therapy in Vietnam
Author(s) -
Dang Vu Phuong Linh,
Pham Viet Hung,
Dinh Thi Thanh,
Le Thanh Hai,
Nguyen Van Lam,
Vu Thi Phuong
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.13800
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antiretroviral therapy , body mass index , pediatrics , viral load , gastroenterology , immunology
Background There are currently two markers used to monitor treatment response to anti‐retroviral therapy ( ART ) in HIV ‐infected children: CD 4 T‐cell count and HIV viral load; but analysis of these could be challenging in resource‐poor countries. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether change in growth parameters such as weight‐for‐age Z score ( WAZ ), height‐for‐age Z score ( HAZ ) and body mass index‐for‐age Z score ( BMIZ ) is associated with treatment response in HIV ‐infected children. Methods This was a nested case–control study, in which the data were collected at enrolment and then periodically every 6 months for a total 36 month follow up of 107 HIV ‐infected children enrolled and treated at National Hospital of Pediatrics, Vietnam. Results At treatment initiation, WAZ , HAZ and BMIZ were not significantly higher in the treatment success ( TS ) group compared with the treatment failure ( TF ) group. After ART initiation, WAZ and HAZ increased, and this was significant in the TS group (from −1.5 to −0.54, P < 0.01 and from −2.06 to −0.84, P < 0.01, respectively). Low HAZ was significantly associated with TF ( HR , 0.71; 95% CI : 0.54–0.92). Conclusion Height‐for‐age Z score was the most sensitive growth parameter in prediction of the treatment response. In order to use growth parameters, particularly HAZ as a prognosis marker for TF in clinical practice, further research should be conducted to evaluate the role of growth parameters and their effects on treatment response.