Antiretroviral concentrations in small hair samples as a feasible marker of adherence in rural Kenya

Charles R. Salmen, Matthew D. Hickey, Robert A. Tessler, Dan Omollo, Peter Bacchetti, Richard Magerenge, Brian Mattah, Marcus R. Salmen, Daniel Zoughbie, Kathryn J. Fiorella, Elvin Geng, Betty Njoroge, Chengshi Jin, Yong Huang, Elizabeth A. Bukusi, Craig R. Cohen, Monica Gandhi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antiretroviral hair levels objectively quantify drug exposure over time and predict virologic responses. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of collecting small hair samples in a rural Kenyan cohort. Ninety-five percentage of participants (354/373) donated hair. Although median self-reported adherence was 100% (interquartile range, 96%-100%), a wide range of hair concentrations likely indicates overestimation of self-reported adherence and the advantages of a pharmacologic adherence measure. Higher nevirapine hair concentrations observed in women and older adults require further study to unravel behavioral versus pharmacokinetic contributors. In resource-limited settings, hair antiretroviral levels may serve as a low-cost quantitative biomarker of adherence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)311-315
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Volume66
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Keywords

  • Adherence
  • Feasibility and acceptability
  • Hair concentrations
  • Nevirapine
  • Pharmacologic measure
  • Resourcelimited setting

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Antiretroviral concentrations in small hair samples as a feasible marker of adherence in rural Kenya'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this