PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Anthony Allen Reeves AU - Andrea V Fuentes AU - Joshua Caballero AU - Jennifer E Thomas AU - Juan F Mosley II AU - Catherine Harrington TI - Neurotoxicities in the treatment of HIV between dolutegravir, rilpivirine and dolutegravir/rilpivirine: a meta-analysis AID - 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054821 DP - 2021 Jun 01 TA - Sexually Transmitted Infections PG - 261--267 VI - 97 IP - 4 4099 - http://sti.bmj.com/content/97/4/261.short 4100 - http://sti.bmj.com/content/97/4/261.full SO - Sex Transm Infect2021 Jun 01; 97 AB - Objective To assess the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse effects (ie, depression, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, suicidal behaviour) among patients treated with rilpivirine, dolutegravir and dolutegravir/rilpivirine.Design This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Quality of evidence was assessed using Jadad scoring system.Data sources Three electronic databases were searched for available publications up to 1 May 2020. Searches included relevant studies, trial registers, conference proceeding abstracts and grey literature.Inclusion criteria Randomised controlled trials with data focused on adult participants (ie, 18 years of age or older) receiving dolutegravir 50 mg, rilpivirine 25 mg or combination of dolutegravir 50 mg/rilpivirine 25 mg once daily.Results Twenty studies with a minimum duration of 48 weeks and average Jadad score of 4 were included (n=10 998). Primary objective demonstrated a relative risk (RR) synergistic effect on depressive symptoms for dolutegravir/rilpivirine (RR=2.82; 95% CI (1.12 to 7.10)) when compared with dolutegravir (RR=1.10; 95% CI (0.88 to 1.38)) and rilpivirine (RR=1.08; 95% CI (0.80 to 1.48)). Secondary objectives showed no difference between dolutegravir, rilpivirine and dolutegravir/rilpivirine to efavirenz. Additionally, excluding efavirenz studies, dolutegravir and dolutegravir/rilpivirine yielded increased depression (RR=1.34; 95% CI (1.04 to 1.74)).Conclusion The combination of dolutegravir/rilpivirine appears to increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Despite the increase, the clinical significance is unknown and needs further study. Additionally, neurotoxicity risk appears similar between dolutegravir, rilpivirine and dolutegravir/rilpivirine antiretroviral therapy when compared with efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy.