Browsing by Author "Kintu, Kenneth"

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    72 Weeks Post-Partum Follow-Up of Dolutegravir Versus Efavirenz Initiated in Late Pregnancy (DolPHIN-2): An Open-Label, Randomised Controlled Study
    (The Lancet HIV, 2022) Malaba, Thokozile R.; Nakatudde, Irene; Kintu, Kenneth; Reynolds, Helen; Mrubata, Megan; Seden, Kay; Twimukye, Adelline; Hodel, Eva Maria; Wang, Duolao; Byamugisha, Josaphat; Bokako, Sharon; Waitt, Catriona
    Late initiation of antiretrovirals in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of perinatal transmission and higher infant mortality. We report the final 72-week postpartum results for efficacy and safety of dolutegravir-based compared with efavirenz-based regimens in mothers and infants. DolPHIN-2 was a randomised, open-label trial. Pregnant women in South Africa and Uganda aged at least 18 years, with untreated but confirmed HIV infection and an estimated gestation of at least 28 weeks, initiating antiretroviral therapy in third trimester were eligible for inclusion. Eligible women were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either dolutegravir-based (50 mg dolutegravir, 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and either 200 mg emtricitabine in South Africa or 300 mg lamivudine in Uganda) or efavirenz-based (fixed dose combination 600 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus either emtricitabine in South Africa or lamivudine in Uganda) therapy. The primary efficacy outcome was the time to a viral load of less than 50 copies per mL measured at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks postpartum with a Cox model adjusting for viral load and CD4 cell count. Safety endpoints were summarised by the number of women and infants with events. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03249181. Between Jan 23 and Aug 15, 2018, 280 women were screened for inclusion, of whom 268 (96%) women were randomly assigned: 133 (50%) to the efavirenz group and 135 (50%) to the dolutegravir group. 250 (93%; 125 [50%] in the efavirenz group and 125 [50%] in the dolutegravir group) women were included in the intention-to-treat analysis of efficacy. Median time to viral load of less than 50 copies per mL was 4·1 weeks (IQR 4·0–5·1) in the dolutegravir group compared with 12·1 weeks (10·7–13·3) in the efavirenz group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·93 [95% CI 1·5–2·5]). At 72 weeks postpartum, 116 (93%) mothers in the dolutegravir group and 114 (91%) in the efavirenz group had a viral load of less than 50 copies per mL. Of 57 (21%) mothers with a severe adverse event, three (2%) in the dolutegravir group and five (4%) in the efavirenz group were related to the drug (dolutegravir drug-related events were one woman each with suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, herpes zoster meningitis; efavirenz drug-related events were one woman each with suicide attempt and liver cirrhosis, and three people with drug-induced liver injury). Of 136 (56%) infants in whom severe adverse events were recorded, none were related to the study drugs. In addition to the three infant HIV infections detected at birth in the dolutegravir group that have been previously reported, an additional transmission in the efavirenz group occurred during breastfeeding despite optimal maternal viral suppression and serial negative infant tests in the first year of life. Dolutegravir was safe and well tolerated, supporting updated WHO treatment recommendations in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Infant HIV transmissions can occur during breastfeeding despite persistently undetectable maternal viral load highlighting the need for continued infant testing.
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    Dapivirine vaginal ring use does not diminish the effectiveness of hormonal contraception
    (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes, 2017) Balkus, Jennifer E.; Palanee-Phillips, Thesla; Reddy, Krishnaveni; Siva, Samantha; Harkoo, Ishana; Nakabiito, Clemensia; Kintu, Kenneth; Nair, Gonasangrie; Chappell, Catherine; Matovu Kiweewa, Flavia; Kabwigu, Samuel; Naidoo, Logashvari; Jeenarain, Nitesha; Marzinke, Mark; Soto-Torres, Lydia; Brown, Elizabeth R.; Baeten, Jared M.
    To evaluate the potential for a clinically relevant drug-drug interaction with concomitant use of a dapivirine vaginal ring, a novel antiretroviral-based HIV-1 prevention strategy, and hormonal contraception by examining contraceptive efficacies with and without dapivirine ring use. A secondary analysis of women participating in MTN-020/ASPIRE, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV-1 prevention. Methods: Use of a highly effective method of contraception was an eligibility criterion for study participation. Urine pregnancy tests were performed monthly. Pregnancy incidence by arm was calculated separately for each hormonal contraceptive method and compared using an Andersen-Gill proportional hazards model stratified by site and censored at HIV-1 infection. Of 2629 women enrolled, 2310 women returned for follow-up and reported using a hormonal contraceptive method at any point during study participation (1139 in the dapivirine arm, 1171 in the placebo arm). Pregnancy incidence in the dapivirine arm versus placebo among women using injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate was 0.43% vs. 0.54%, among women using injectable norethisterone enanthate was 1.15% vs. 0%, among women using hormonal implants was 0.22% vs. 0.69%, and among women using oral contraceptive pills was 32.26% vs. 28.01%. Pregnancy incidence did not differ by study arm for any of the hormonal contraceptive methods. Use of the dapivirine ring does not reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives for pregnancy prevention. Oral contraceptive pill use was associated with high pregnancy incidence, potentially due to poor pill adherence. Injectable and implantable methods were highly effective in preventing pregnancy.
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    Mentorship needs at academic institutions in resource-limited settings: a survey at Makerere university college of health sciences
    (BMC Medical Education, 2011) Nakanjako, Damalie; Byakika-Kibwika, Pauline; Kintu, Kenneth; Aizire, Jim; Nakwagala, Fred; Luzige, Simon; Namisi, Charles; Mayanja-Kizza, Harriet; Kamya, Moses R.
    Mentoring is a core component of medical education and career success. There is increasing global emphasis on mentorship of young scientists in order to train and develop the next leaders in global health. However, mentoring efforts are challenged by the high clinical, research and administrative demands. We evaluated the status and nature of mentoring practices at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MAKCHS). Methods: Pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires were sent by email to all Fogarty alumni at the MAKCHS (mentors) and each of them was requested to complete and email back the questionnaire. In addition to training level and number of mentors, the questionnaires had open-ended questions covering themes such as; status of mentorship, challenges faced by mentors and strategies to improve and sustain mentorship within MAKCHS. Similarly, open-ended questionnaires were sent and received by email from all graduate students (mentees) registered with the Uganda Society for Health Scientists (USHS). Qualitative data from mentors and mentees was analyzed manually according to the pre-determined themes.
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    The MTN-016 Pregnancy Registry: Baseline Characteristics of Enrollees from the VOICE Study and Reasons for Non-enrollment of Eligible Women
    (AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 2014) Kabwigu, Samuel; Noguchi, Lisa; Moodley, Jothi; Palanee, Thes; Kintu, Kenneth; Nair, Lulu; Panchia, R.; Selepe, Pearl; Balkus, Jennifer E.; Torjesen, Kristine; Piper, Jeanna; Scheckter, Rachel; Hazra, Rohan; Beigi, Richard
    As pregnant women are at risk for HIV and women at risk of HIV may become pregnant, it is important to assess the safety of candidate HIV prevention products in both non-pregnant and pregnant women. The MTN-016 pregnancy registry is a prospective observational cohort in which participants who became pregnant during MTN effectiveness studies or those with planned exposures in pregnancy safety studies are monitored for adverse obstetric outcomes; infants from these pregnancies are followed through the first year of life. Registry enrollment systematically excludes termination of pregnancy and early pregnancy loss, including early non-viable pregnancies with a transient positive test at a monthly visit, as these data are captured in parent protocols. For VOICE participants enrolled into the registry from Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, we describe baseline demographic characteristics and key reasons for non-enrollment as reported by site investigators.
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    Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes Among Women Using the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring in Early Pregnancy
    (Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes, 2018) Makanani, Bonus; Balkus, Jennifer E.; Jiao, Yuqing; Noguchi, Lisa M.; Palanee-Phillips, Thesla; Mbilizi, Yamikani; Moodley, Jothi; Kintu, Kenneth; Reddy, Krishnaveni; Kabwigu, Samuel; Jeenariain, Nitesha; Harkoo, Ishana; Mgodi, Nyaradzo; Piper, Jeanna; Rees, Helen; Scheckter, Rachel; Beigi, Richard; Baeten, Jared M. ,
    Monthly use of the dapivirine vaginal ring has been shown to be safe and effective for HIV-1 prevention in nonpregnant reproductive-aged women. The impact of dapivirine on pregnancy outcomes and infant is not known. We compared pregnancy incidence and outcomes by study arm among HIV-1–uninfected women who became pregnant while participating in MTN-020/ASPIRE. ASPIRE was a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled phase III safety and effectiveness study of the dapivirinering for HIV-1 prevention. Sexually active women aged 18–45 years from Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe were enrolled. Urine pregnancy tests were performed monthly, and, if positive, study product was withheld during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pregnancy-related outcomes included the following: pregnancy incidence, pregnancy outcomes (live birth, preterm birth, pregnancy loss, and congenital anomalies), and infant growth.
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    Safety and pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir in pregnant mothers with HIV infection and their neonates: A randomised trial (DolPHIN-1 study)
    (PLoS Med, 2019) Waitt, Catriona; Orrell, Catherine; Walimbwa, Stephen; Singh, Yashna; Kintu, Kenneth; Simmons, Bryony; Kaboggoza, Julian; Sihlangu, Mary; Coombs, Julie- Anne; Malaba, Thoko; Byamugisha, Josaphat; Amara, Alieu; Gini, Joshua; Else, Laura; Heiburg, Christie; Hodel, Eva Maria; Reynolds, Helen; Mehta, Ushma; Byakika-Kibwika, Pauline; Hill, Andrew; Myer, Landon; Lamorde, Mohammed; Khoo, Saye
    The global transition to use of dolutegravir (DTG) in WHO-preferred regimens for HIV treatment is limited by lack of knowledge on use in pregnancy. Here we assessed the relationship between drug concentrations (pharmacokinetics, PK), including in breastmilk, and impact on viral suppression when initiated in the third trimester (T3). Methods and findings In DolPHIN-1, HIV-infected treatment-naïve pregnant women (28–36 weeks of gestation, age 26 (19–42), weight 67kg (45–119), all Black African) in Uganda and South Africa were randomised 1:1 to dolutegravir (DTG) or efavirenz (EFV)-containing ART until 2 weeks post-partum (2wPP), between 9th March 2017 and 16th January 2018, with follow-up until six months postpartum. The primary endpoint was pharmacokinetics of DTG in women and breastfed infants; secondary endpoints included maternal and infant safety and viral suppression. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling of DTG was undertaken at day 14 and 2wPP following administration of a medium-fat breakfast, with additional paired sampling between maternal plasma and cord blood, breastmilk and infant plasma.