AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #347 - Anti-retroviral therapy initiation for children with advanced HIV disease: 3 years later
Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Hanneke Brits - University of the Free State
Additional Authors:
Aim: : HIV is a major problem in Sub Saharan Africa, effecting at least 1.8 million children. Most of these children present late for treatment and suffer from complex symptoms, pain and multiple losses. An original study was done in 2006 to look at the initial response of children with advanced HIV who was started on ARV’s. To measure the clinical outcome of children with advanced HIV, initiated on ARV’s under a model of Paediatric palliative care. Clinical response and reasons for fall out were measured.
Method / Issue: A retrospective cohort of file reviews was updated to a 3-year follow-up study. All children in Sunflower Children’s Hospice programme who were started on ARV’s during March to September 2006 were included in the study. Demographic data, clinical data, laboratory results and reasons for fall out were investigated.
Results / Comments: 37 children were included in the original study. 18 are still in the programme, 8 died, 6 were transferred to other programmes and 5 were lost to follow-up. All children currently on ARV’s in the programme have undetectable viral loads, 4 of them on 2nd line treatment. 12 are attending school, 3 with learning disabilities.
Discussion: A Paediatric palliative care program offers good but unpredictable clinical outcome. Reasons for fall out included death, relocation and lost to follow-up.
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