Under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), India's antiretroviral therapy is provided free-of-cost through a specific network. A patient diagnosed with HIV and CD4 count of 180 cells/mm³ should be started on ART irrespective of CD4 count per current WHO/NACO guidelines. The first-line regimen recommended for treatment-naive adults in India under NACP is:
- A Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Nevirapine
- B Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Dolutegravir (TLD) ✓
- C Abacavir + Emtricitabine + Efavirenz
- D Stavudine + Didanosine + Ritonavir
Correct answer: B. Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Dolutegravir (TLD)
Explanation
India's NACP, aligned with WHO 2019 guidelines, recommends Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Dolutegravir (TLD) as the preferred first-line ART regimen for treatment-naive HIV-positive adults and adolescents. TLD has replaced TLE (tenofovir+lamivudine+efavirenz) as the national first-line regimen due to superior efficacy, higher barrier to resistance, and better tolerability.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.