Performance of Creatinine- and Cystatin C-Based Equations for Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation in HIV-1-Infected Individuals Receiving Dolutegravir plus Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate plus Lamivudine as Initial Antiretroviral Therapy: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) may inhibit organic cation transporter-2 in renal tubules and elevate serum creatinine levels without true renal function deterioration. There are scarce data on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations in Chinese HIV patients with DTG/TDF/3 TC. This retrospective study was to evaluate the changes in creatinine- and cystatin C-based estimated GFR values among Chinese adult HIV patients with initial highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with DTG/TDF/3 TC for 48 weeks. Settings: Retrospective analysis of Chinese adult HIV patients who received initial HAART with DTG/TDF/3 TC between January 2016 and May 2021. Methods: We compared the changes in creatinine-based and cystatin C-based estimated GFR before and 48 weeks after HAART to determine the optimal tool for renal function estimation. Results: Ninety-five patients [91.58% men; median age, 34 years (interquartile range, 29-44 years)] were enrolled. The median baseline CD4(+) cell count was 185 cells/mu L [interquartile range, 53-303 cells/mu L] and the median baseline viral load was 148,000 copies/mL [interquartile range, 26,800-596,000 copies/mL]. The estimated GFR at 4, 12, and 24 weeks was significantly different than at baseline (P < 0.05) using all 4 equations. Only the GFR estimated using the CKD-EPIcreat and CKD-EPIcys equations was significantly different at 48 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The modification of diet in renal disease-based decline of GFR incidence at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks of treatment (21.5%, 24.21%, 33.68% and 38.95%, respectively) was higher than that calculated using the other 3 GFR equations. Conclusions: The modification of diet in renal disease equation may not be optimal for Chinese HIV-1-infected adults receiving DTG + TDF + 3 TC as the initial antiviral therapy. Clinicians must carefully choose the GFR equation for patients with HIV/hepatitis B virus coinfection.