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Effect of obesity on dolutegravir exposure in Black Southern African adults living with HIV


Enkosi Mondleki
Clifford G. Banda
Nomathemba C. Chandiwana
Simiso Sokhela
Lubbe Wiesner
Francois Venter
Gary Maartens
Phumla Z. Sinxadi

Abstract

Background: Dolutegravir, a component of the preferred first-line antiretroviral therapy regimen, has been associated with increased weight gain. South Africa has a high prevalence of obesity, especially among women. Understanding dolutegravir exposure in patients with obesity is important for dose optimisation.


Objectives: We compared the pharmacokinetic parameters of dolutegravir in Southern African adults living with HIV with and without obesity.


Method: Blood samples were collected at various time points over a 24 h-period for dolutegravir assays. Non-compartmental analysis was conducted and  geometric mean ratios (GMRs), with 90% confidence intervals (CIs), were generated to compare dolutegravir pharmacokinetic parameters between  the groups. Regression analyses to assess predictors of dolutegravir exposure were done.


Results: Forty participants were enrolled, 26 were women and 10 had obesity. Dolutegravir area under the concentration-time curve to 24-h and the  maximum concentrations were not statistically significantly lower in participants with obesity: GMR 0.91 (90% CI: 0.71–1.16) and GMR 0.86 (90% CI:  0.68–1.07), respectively. In a multivariate linear regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, creatinine clearance and randomisation  arm (tenofovir alafenamide or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), a unit increase in body mass index was associated with 1.2% lower dolutegravir area under  the concentration-time curve to 24-h (P = 0.035).


Conclusion: Dolutegravir exposure was marginally lower in participants with obesity, but this is not clinically significant. Our findings suggest that there  is no need to dose adjust dolutegravir in people with obesity.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2078-6751
print ISSN: 1608-9693