Study of drug resistance among 78 antiretroviral treatment-naive patients with HIV-1 subtype B infection in central China.

To study the prevalence of drug resistance mutations among HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) naive subjects with HIV-1 subtype B infection, evaluate the correlation between major mutations and viral loads. Additionally, to investigate the primary resistance spectrum in the central plains of China and provide some guidance for the choice of antiretroviral drugs (ARV). Drug resistance mutations and viral loads were measured in 78 treatment-naïve patients with HIV infection and the results were analyzed with descriptive statistical and multiple statistical analysis. The most common mutations were L63P, V77I and I93L, which belong to minor mutations of the proteinase gene, and none of which had any relation to viral loads. The major mutations, which were mainly K103N and Q151M, were less frequent in China than those in other countries. There was a certain correlation between viral loads and I93IL according to stepwise regression analysis. The incidence of primary mutations among HAART naïve patients was lower in China's central plains than that in other countries, and the most common mutations had no relation to viral loads. Though major mutations affecting choice of ARV are not common in China, they deserve further attention.