Changes in Cerebral Function in Treatment Naive HIV-1 Infected Subjects Commencing Either Boosted Atazanavir With Truvada or Boosted Darunavir With Maraviroc and Kivexa (CogUK)

Impairment in neurocognitive(NC) function in HIV-infected subjects in the current anti-retroviraltreatment (cART) era has been associated with poor compliance with cART, reduced quality-of-life and increased mortality. Reported factors associated with the development of NC function impairment in HIV disease and risks associated with progression of such impairment include degree of immune suppression related to HIV infection, other chronic viral infections (such as chronic hepatitis C co-infection), age and central nervous system (CNS) antiretroviral drug exposure.

One modifiable factor which may be associated with the evolution of NC function impairment is the direct effect of cART on the central-nervous-system (CNS). Certain antiretroviral drugs such as zidovudine, lamivudine, abacavir, nevirapine, efavirenz and indinavir are known to achieve optimal exposure in the cerebro-spinal-fluid (CSF) whereas other drugs, such as the majority of the HIV-1 protease inhibitors penetrate less effectively. Studies to date suggest different cART regimens may have differing effects on NC performance. In the EuroSIDA study, the use of nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase inhibitors was found to specifically protect against the development of HIV related brain disease. More recently, in a small prospective study, ALTAIR, different effect on cerebral function was reported in subjects randomised to commence three different cART regimens.

The investigators propose, in a prospective, randomised study to assess the effects of two different antiretroviral regimens on NC function in HIV infected subjects commencing antiretroviral therapy for the first time.