# Dolutegravir combined anti-retroviral agents as second-line drugs and virologic suppression of adults with HIV in Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti - case series

## TL;DR

This study examines how well dolutegravir-based HIV treatment works in suppressing the virus in patients who switched to it as a second-line therapy.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence supporting dolutegravir's effectiveness in achieving faster viral suppression as a second-line ART regimen.

## Key findings

- Clients on dolutegravir-combined ART showed superior viral suppression within three months.
- The findings support WHO's recommendation of dolutegravir as a preferred second-line regimen.
- Clients not on dolutegravir had slower viral suppression compared to those on the DTG regimen.

## Abstract

The transition to dolutegravir (DTG)-combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART) as a preferred option in both first- and second-line for all populations was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to encouraging safety data for women and adolescent girls during the peri-conception period. This case series aimed at determining the viral suppression of adults with HIV on Dolutegravir combined anti-retroviral agents as second-line drugs. Four clients' viral suppression were observed from ART initiation to switching to second line and later transiting to the DTG-combined regimen and the findings was that clients A and B, who were transitioned to the DTG-combined regimen had superior viral suppression by three months when compared to clients C and D who were switched to second line. The case series supports the WHO recommendation that the DTG-based regimen is the preferred first- and second-line switch ART regimen in HIV management, in achieving faster viral load suppression than any other regimen.