indinavir-sulfate and efavirenz

HIV-positive children are at high risk of drug resistance, which is of particular concern in settings where antiretroviral options are limited. In this Review we explore resistance rates and patterns among children in developing countries in whom antiretroviral treatment has failed. We did a systematic search of online databases and conference abstracts and included studies reporting HIV-1 drug resistance after failure of first-line paediatric regimens in children (<18 years) in resource-poor regions (Latin America, Africa, and Asia). We retrieved 1312 citations, of which 30 studies reporting outcomes in 3241 children were eligible. Viruses with resistance-associated mutations were isolated from 90% (95% CI 88-93%) of children. The prevalence of mutations associated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors was 80%, with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors was 88%, and with protease inhibitors was 54%. Methods to prevent treatment failure, including adequate paediatric formulations and affordable salvage treatment options are urgently needed.

Topics: Adolescent; Africa; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Asia; Benzoxazines; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cyclopropanes; Developing Countries; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; Health Resources; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Latin America; Lopinavir; Male; Mutation; Nevirapine; Pyrimidinones; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Stavudine; Treatment Failure; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Topics: Acidosis, Lactic; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Hemophilia A; Hemorrhage; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; Humans; Indinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Stavudine; Zidovudine

Although the reduction in HIV-1-related deaths with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is similar in adults and children, the extent of the changes in two important surrogate markers HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ T cell counts, differs widely. In most paediatric studies virological response rates to HAART are inferior to those in adults. This review provides an overview of the paediatric clinical studies using HAART and seeks to improve the understanding of factors that may contribute to success or failure of HAART in children. An overview of all current articles on paediatric clinical trials using HAART is provided. 23 papers were available. HIV-1 RNA loads and CD4+ T cell counts were used as primary outcome measures. Virological response rates were highly variable, both among the different antiretroviral drugs but also among different studies using the same medication. Four studies in which dosages of the administrated protease inhibitor (PI) were adjusted after pharmacokinetic evaluation had superior virological response rates compared with those in which fixed dosages were used. Immunological response rates were more uniform than virological responses. In almost all studies increases of CD4+ T cell counts are reported independent of the extent of the virological response. Side-effects of HAART were generally mild, transient, and of gastrointestinal origin. Significant percentages of patients with serum lipid abnormalities were reported in three paediatric studies. However, signs of clinical lipodystrophy were not observed. The inferior virological response rates, which have been reported in HIV-1 infected children treated with HAART form a reflection of the challenges that are encountered in the treatment of these children. Difficulties with adherence and with the pharmacokinetics of PIs in children require an intensive, child-adjusted approach. A practical approach to therapy in institutions without tertiary care facilities may be induction therapy with a lopinavir containing regimen (lacking a need for therapeutic drug monitoring), to reduce high viral load levels followed by an easily tolerated maintenance regimen, for example containing abacavir or nevirapine.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Saquinavir

Deaths related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the incidence of opportunistic infections have been drastically decreased in the industrialized world. These reductions are mainly due to recent advances in the management of HIV infection, including the availability of new therapies. Until November 1995, the antiretroviral drugs available and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use in the United States consisted of only four nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors: zidovudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, and stavudine. Since then, 2 new classes of agents and 10 new agents have been approved; thus, the number of available antiretroviral drugs has more than tripled. Additional drugs and newer classes of antiretrovirals are in various stages of development. Because of the availability of more drugs, the complexity of HIV treatment has increased. Selecting an appropriate antiretroviral therapeutic regimen involves addressing multiple interdependent issues, including patient adherence, pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs (including food effects and drug-drug interactions), drug resistance, and overlapping adverse effects.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Cyclopropanes; Delavirdine; Didanosine; Dideoxynucleosides; Female; Furans; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Protease Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Stavudine; Sulfonamides; Zalcitabine; Zidovudine

Since 1996 indinavir in combination with zidovudine + lamivudine has been the standard regimen in the treatment of HIV infection. Although protease inhibitor (PI) containing therapies are very potent, many problems have now been identified that reduce quality of life such as a high pill burden, multiple daily dosing and dietary constraints. In addition, adverse events, such as lipodystrophy and lipid metabolism changes are being reported more frequently as long-term experience with PI therapy is gained. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) have been shown to be potent partners for antiretroviral combined therapies. Efavirenz is one of the most recent NNRTIs to be developed. Evidence to date suggests that given its potency, convenience and tolerability, efavirenz will have a major role to play in first-line, PI-sparing regimens and long-term suppressive therapy. However, many questions remain unanswered and future research should attempt to address these issues.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Delavirdine; Didanosine; Dideoxynucleosides; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Stavudine; Zalcitabine; Zidovudine

We compared the response of two standard 3-drug regimens containing two-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (Zidovudine +Lamivudine) plus either a protease inhibitor (PIs) (Indinavir) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) (Efavirenz) among treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced HIV-infected persons. The obtained results will be compared to clinical trial findings. Through a retrospective study, we compared the virological and immunological response of 119 Tunisian HIV-1 infected patients (North Africa) who started for the first time/ in salvage use a triple antiretroviral treatment containing one NNRTI (group A1/group A2) or one PI (group B1/group B2). Viral load (VL) was analysed with Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor test and drug resistance mutations were examined by using two distinct line probe assays (LiPA). The analysis according to the received treatment showed an average of 0.45 log(10) drop in the mean VL among groups A2 and B2. For naïve patients, 62.5% of group A1 reached an undetectable VL versus 53.5% for group B1 (p < 0.001). With regard to the CD4 cell count change, we observed a mean increase of more than 65% versus baseline within group A1 in comparison with 42% for group B1 (p < 0.001). Genotypic resistance assays showed that patients of group A2 had significantly more resistance mutations than those of group B2 (2.66 vs. 0.75 (p = 0.0039)). Finally, 15 patients who were failing were switched to indinavir or efavirenz. When indinavir was replaced by efavirenz, we observed an increase in the plasma VL. With regard to the effects on immunological and virological outcome of patients using PIs or NNRTIs in a triple antiretroviral therapy, our observations in normal clinical practice supported the reported clinical trial findings but are not in favour of replacing indinavir by efavirenz in failing regimen.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cohort Studies; Cyclopropanes; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Oxazines; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Tunisia; Viremia; Zidovudine

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NRTI) sparing is a favourable option for patients with NRTI failure or toxicity.. Patients judged to be failing NRTI therapy were enrolled in a single-arm, open-label study of indinavir/ritonavir (IDV/r) 800/100 mg twice a day (bid)+efavirenz (EFV) 600 mg once a day (qd). The primary endpoint was the change in time-weighted average HIV RNA from baseline. The initial 48-week protocol was extended to 96 weeks by a single amendment. Analysis was by intention to treat.. Sixty-one patients (23 female) were enrolled in the study. Baseline median inter-quartile range (IQR) NRTI exposure was 4.4 (3.9-4.7) years; baseline median viral load was 4.09 log(10) HIV-1 RNA copies/mL (range 3.75-4.61 log(10) copies/mL); baseline median CD4 count was 169 cells/microL (range 60-277 cells/microL). The mean (SD) change in time-weighted average HIV RNA from baseline at 48 and 96 weeks was -2.1 (0.7) and -2.1 (0.8) log(10) copies/mL respectively, resulting in 87% and 69% of patients with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL. Sixteen per cent of patients permanently ceased therapy and 26% underwent temporary drug interruptions because of study drug-related adverse events. Fasted-lipid values rose significantly over the 96 weeks of study, as did median blood glucose and median serum creatinine levels. Twelve (20%) patients underwent IDV dose reduction, mainly because of nephrotoxicity (nine of 12 patients). Blood pressure values deteriorated following switch, but markers of nucleoside toxicity improved.. IDV/r 800/100 mg bid+EFV 600 mg qd gave a potent, durable response in these NRTI failures and was reasonably well tolerated. However, we observed adverse effects on renal, metabolic and blood pressure parameters. Lower doses of boosted IDV might improve toxicity while maintaining efficacy, and this possibility warrants further investigation.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alkynes; Anthropometry; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Blood Glucose; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Creatinine; Cyclopropanes; Disease Progression; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Reverse Transcriptase; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Treatment Failure; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load

To compare CC chemokine mRNA levels from native peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) before and 6 months after the initiation of two different regimens of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), we treated group 1 (n = 11) with two nucleoside analogues and the protease inhibitor (PI) indinavir boosted by ritonavir (800/100 mg b.i.d.); group 2 (n = 8) was treated with the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) efavirenz instead of PI. CC chemokine mRNA levels (regulated upon T cell activation expressed secreted [RANTES], macrophage inhibitory protein [MIP]-1alpha, MIP-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, MCP-2) were quantified from PBMCs before and 6 months after the initiation of HAART using a reverse transcription/real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The mRNA levels of MCP-1 and MCP-2 were significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), while MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta were decreased significantly only in the PI-treated group, but not in the NNRTI group. A moderate decrease of RANTES was observed in both treatment groups. The data suggest that HAART regimens containing either NNRTI or PI are not equivalent with regard to modification of CC chemokine mRNA profiles.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Chemokine CCL2; Chemokine CCL3; Chemokine CCL4; Chemokine CCL5; Chemokine CCL8; Chemokines; Cyclopropanes; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; Male; Middle Aged; Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Ritonavir; RNA, Messenger

We assessed the pharmacokinetics of three different doses of indinavir in five patients. All doses achieved trough concentrations above efficacy thresholds. Toxic trough concentrations were observed in all patients receiving 800 mg, in two patients receiving 600 mg, and in none receiving 400 mg. Indinavir at 400 mg may be efficacious and less toxic in patients taking ritonavir and efavirenz.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Area Under Curve; Benzoxazines; China; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Interactions; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Ritonavir

HIV-1 RNA levels in semen and blood compartments decrease below detection limits during highly active antiretroviral therapy. Despite these therapeutic effects, it is clear that persistent, latent HIV-1 reservoirs are capable of rebounding in the absence of drug treatment or by evolution of escape mutants remain. The current study was designed to examine the presence of latent virus in semen and blood compartments and its evolution following potent combination therapy with indinavir (protease inhibitor) and efavirenz [nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor]. Using an ultrasensitive in situ hybridization assay HIV-1 mRNA was detected in cultured seminal and blood mononuclear cells in all patients up to 1789 days posttherapy. Higher levels of HIV-1 mRNA were consistently detected in seminal mononuclear cells as compared to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in all time points analyzed posttherapy. Analysis of viral RNA from cultured PBMC before and after therapy displayed no evidence of therapy-induced drug resistance in the viral polymerase gene in the majority of patients. However, distinct envelope populations were detected in these viral RNA populations following therapy, indicating possible selection of quasispecies. The observed ongoing replication and evolution in the PBMC viral envelope sequences likely occurred in the seminal compartment HIV populations, given that the seminal cells showed the ability to express HIV-1 mRNA following cultivation. This together with our previous studies (Gupta P, et al.: J Infect Dis 2000;182:79-87) suggest that the genital and blood compartments likely serve as distinct reservoirs harboring latent HIV-1 during prolonged drug therapy.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cells, Cultured; Cyclopropanes; Evolution, Molecular; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Molecular Sequence Data; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Semen; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Viral Load; Virus Latency

The present population pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) study modeled the effects of covariates including drug adherence and the coadministration of protease inhibitors (PIs) on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz (EFV) and the relationship between EFV exposure and virological failure in patients who failed initial PI treatment in Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) study 398. We also report on the population PKs of the PIs nelfinavir (NFV) and indinavir (IDV). AACTG study 398 patients received EFV, amprenavir, adefovir dipivoxil, and abacavir and were randomized to take, in addition, one of the following: NFV, IDV, saquinavir (SQV), or placebo. The PK databases consisted of 531 EFV concentrations (139 patients), 219 NFV concentrations (75 patients), and 66 IDV concentrations (11 patients). Time to virological failure was ascertained for all patients in the PK databases. PK data were fit with a population PK model that assumed exclusive hepatic elimination (the well-stirred model). Notable findings with respect to EFV PK and PD are as follows. (i) The hepatic clearance of EFV is unaltered by NFV, IDV, or SQV coadministration. (ii) The hepatic clearance of EFV appears to be 28% higher in white non-Hispanics than in African Americans and Hispanics (P = 0.03). (iii) Higher adherence scores (as measured with the Medication Event Monitoring System) are associated with marginally increased levels of exposure to EFV. (iv) In patients with no prior experience with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), a given percent increase in the oral clearance (CL/F) of EFV is associated with a greater percent increase in the hazard of virological failure (P < 0.0003). Among NNRTI-experienced patients, however, hazard is relatively uncorrelated with EFV CL/F.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Alkynes; Bayes Theorem; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Interactions; Female; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Models, Biological; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Population Surveillance; Treatment Failure

A prospective, open-label study was conducted to assess the response to indinavir, efavirenz, and adefovir in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients experiencing viral rebound while receiving therapy with nelfinavir-containing regimens, to determine whether the protease genotype influenced the outcome of the salvage regimen. Genotyping from 29 nelfinavir failures revealed D30N in 17 (59%) and L90M in 11 (38%) cases. Suppression to <400 viral RNA copies/mL was achieved at week 48 in 56% of patients with the D30N virus versus 18% of patients with the L90M virus.

Topics: Adenine; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Nelfinavir; Organophosphonates; Oxazines; Treatment Failure

Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG) Protocol 886 examined the dispositions of indinavir, efavirenz, and abacavir in human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects who received indinavir at 1,000 mg every 8 h (q8h) and efavirenz at 600 mg q24h or indinavir at 1,200 mg and efavirenz at 300 mg q12h with or without abacavir 300 at mg q12h. Thirty-six subjects participated. The median minimum concentration in plasma (C(min)) for indinavir administered at 1,200 mg q12h was 88.1 nM (interquartile range [IR], 61.7 to 116.5 nM), whereas the median C(min) for indinavir administered at 1,000 mg q8h was 139.3 nM (IR, 68.8 to 308.7 nM) (P = 0.19). Compared to the minimum C(min) range for wild-type virus (80 to 120 ng/ml) estimated by the AACTG Adult Pharmacology Committee, the C(min) for indinavir administered at 1,200 mg q12h (54 ng/ml) is inadequate. The apparent oral clearance (CL/F) (P = 0.28), apparent volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)/F) (P = 0.25), and half-life (t(1/2)) (P = 0.80) of indinavir did not differ between regimens. The levels of efavirenz exposure were similar between regimens. For efavirenz administered at 600 mg q24h and 300 mg q12h, the median maximum concentrations in plasma (C(max)s) were 8,968 nM (IR, 5,784 to 11,768 nM) and 8,317 nM (6,587 to 10,239 nM), respectively (P = 0.66), and the C(min)s were 4,289 nM (IR, 2,462 to 5,904 nM) and 4,757 nM (IR, 3,088 to 6,644 nM), respectively (P = 0.29). Efavirenz pharmacokinetic parameters such as CL/F (P = 0.62), V(ss)/F (P = 0.33), and t(1/2) (P = 0.37) were similar regardless of the dosing regimen. The median C(max), C(min), CL/F, V(ss)/F, and t(1/2) for abacavir were 6,852 nM (IR, 5,702 to 7,532), 21.0 nM (IR, 21.0 to 87.5), 43.7 liters/h (IR, 37.9 to 55.2), 153.9 liters (IR, 79.6 to 164.4), and 2.0 h (IR, 1.8 to 2.8), respectively. In summary, when indinavir was given with efavirenz, the trough concentration of indinavir after administration of 1,200 mg q12h was inadequate. Abacavir did not influence the pharmacokinetics or exposure parameters of either indinavir or efavirenz. The levels of efavirenz exposure were similar in subjects receiving efavirenz q12h or q24h.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Oxazines; RNA, Viral

To compare long-term virologic benefits of antiretroviral regimens in persons with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, a randomized, open-label study was conducted of 517 subjects with no or limited previous experience with antiretroviral therapy. Subjects received lamivudine plus zidovudine and indinavir (indinavir group), efavirenz plus indinavir (efavirenz + indinavir group), or nelfinavir plus indinavir (nelfinavir + indinavir group) and were monitored for 2.1 years. Virologic failure was lower in the efavirenz + indinavir group (P=.04) and higher in the nelfinavir + indinavir group (P=.006), compared with that in the indinavir group. No difference in grade 3 or 4 adverse event rates in the efavirenz + indinavir group (P=.97) and a trend toward an increased rate in the nelfinavir + indinavir group (P=.07), compared with the indinavir group, were noted. A 4-drug regimen containing efavirenz plus indinavir resulted in a superior virologic response, whereas one containing nelfinavir plus indinavir resulted in an inferior response and a greater likelihood of toxicity.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Patient Compliance; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome

To provide insight into the dynamics and source of residual viremia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy, 14 intensely monitored patients treated with indinavir and efavirenz sustaining HIV RNA at <50 copies/ml for >5 years were studied. Abacavir was added to the regimen of eight patients at year 5. After the first 9 months of therapy, HIV RNA levels had reached a plateau ("residual viremia") that persisted for over 5 years. Levels of residual viremia differed among patients and ranged from 3.2 to 23 HIV RNA copies/ml. Baseline HIV DNA was the only significant pretreatment predictor of residual viremia in regression models including baseline HIV RNA, CD4 count, and patient age. In the four of five patients with detectable viremia who added abacavir to their regimen after 5 years, HIV RNA levels declined rapidly. The estimated half-life of infected cells was 6.7 days. Decrease in activated memory cells and a reduction in gamma interferon production to HIV Gag and p24 antigen in ELISpot assays were observed, consistent with a decrease in HIV replication. Thus, in patients treated with efavirenz plus indinavir, levels of residual viremia were established by 9 months, were predicted by baseline proviral DNA, and remained constant for 5 years. Even after years of highly suppressive therapy, HIV RNA levels declined rapidly after the addition of abacavir, suggesting that productive infection contributes to residual ongoing viremia and can be inhibited with therapy intensification.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; DNA, Viral; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Longitudinal Studies; Oxazines; RNA, Viral; Time Factors; Viremia

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adenine; Adult; Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Genotype; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Nelfinavir; Organophosphonates; Oxazines; Phenotype; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Treatment Failure

Guidelines recommend both protease inhibitor (PI)- and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-containing regimens for initial therapy in HIV-positive individuals whilst clinical trial data comparing treatment options remain limited.. To assess whether drug selection (PI versus NNRTI) in antiretroviral-naive patients is related to virological response at 6 months within a clinical cohort.. Databases from two large clinics were used to identify all treatment-naive patients initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (PI/ two PI or NNRTI). Statistical models determined the likelihood of suppressing HIV viral load < 500 copies/ml, the risk of treatment failure by 6 months, and factors associated with treatment success.. Of 1109 potentially eligible patients 888 met study criteria and were included; 484 were prescribed a PI (40% indinavir, 41% nelfinavir) and 404 were prescribed NNRTI (40% efavirenz, 60% nevirapine). Three treatment arms were compared: efavirenz versus nevirapine versus PI. After stratification by year and centre and adjustment for baseline variables, only treatment group and baseline viral load remained significantly associated with virological suppression at 6 months. Patients on efavirenz were significantly more likely to achieve an undetectable viral load than those on PI or nevirapine. The relative hazard for nevirapine was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.96, P = 0.02) and that for PI was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.94, P = 0.01). Efavirenz also performed better in the analysis of treatment failure at 6 months.. Although observational cohort data may be susceptible to significant bias, this study suggests a better initial virological response for efavirenz compared to either nevirapine or the PI. Clinical trial data is required to confirm these findings.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cohort Studies; Cyclopropanes; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Protease Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiated during acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may preserve HIV-specific CD4+ T cell responses that are thought to enhance HIV-specific CD8+ T cell function. The present pilot study was designed to determine whether preserved HIV-specific immune responses are augmented by the administration of the immunomodulatory agent interleukin (IL)-2. Nine persons recently (<6 months) infected with HIV were randomized to receive HAART alone or HAART plus 3 cycles of intermittent IL-2 during a 12-month period. Although HAART plus IL-2 significantly increased counts of total and naive CD4+ T cells, compared with HAART alone, there was no increase in CD4+ or CD8+ HIV-specific immune responses. In addition, adjuvant IL-2 therapy did not reduce the pool of HIV-infected resting CD4+ T cells. Thus, although intermittent IL-2 plus HAART quantitatively increased CD4+ T cells, this increase was not selective for HIV-specific CD4+ or CD8+ T cell responses in recently infected persons.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Coculture Techniques; Cyclopropanes; Drug Synergism; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Lamivudine; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Subsets; Oxazines; Pilot Projects; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Stavudine

This study evaluated the effect of multiple-dose efavirenz on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of the combination of indinavir (800 mg) and low-dose ritonavir (100 mg) twice a day, in which ritonavir is used to increase indinavir plasma concentrations.. Eighteen healthy male volunteers participated in this multiple-dose, 1-arm, 2-period interaction study. They took a combination of 800 mg indinavir and 100 mg ritonavir with food for 15 days. From days 15 to 29, a once-daily administration of 600 mg efavirenz was added to the combination. Pharmacokinetics of indinavir and ritonavir on days 15 and 29 were compared.. Fourteen volunteers completed the study. The addition of efavirenz resulted in significant reductions (P <.01) in indinavir area under the curve (AUC, -25%), trough concentration (C(min), -50%), and maximum concentration (C(max), -17%). All indinavir C(min) levels on day 29 remained equivalent to or above the mean C(min) value described for the regimen of 800 mg indinavir three times a day, without ritonavir (0.15 mg/L). Changes in ritonavir AUC, C(min), and C(max) were -36%, -39%, and -34%, respectively. Pharmacokinetics of efavirenz on day 29 were comparable with published data.. The addition of efavirenz to a combination of 800 mg indinavir and 100 mg ritonavir twice daily results in significant decreases in AUC, C(max), and especially C(min) of indinavir. The dose of indinavir or ritonavir should be increased to maintain similar indinavir drug levels after addition of efavirenz to the indinavir-ritonavir combination. Dose modifications may not be needed in antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients if the reference C(min) of the regimen of 800 mg indinavir 3 times a day is considered to be adequate.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Area Under Curve; Benzoxazines; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Half-Life; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) of HIV disease is associated with effective virologic control, immune reconstitution, and clinical improvements. This study addresses the potential for improvements in lymphocyte phenotype and virologic responses of HIV-infected persons with extensive experience with dual nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NRTI) treatment and advanced HIV disease after a change to a potent antiretroviral therapy (NRTI + protease inhibitor). The majority of participants achieved virologic success. There was a median rise in CD4+ lymphocytes of 99 cells/mm(3) by 48 weeks, because of an increase in memory CD4+ cells at 4 and 16 weeks, followed by a later increase in naive CD4+ cells between weeks 16 and 48. The proportion of activated, DR+ CD38+ CD8+ lymphocytes decreased during the 48 weeks of follow-up. The immunologic findings (increased memory and naive T cells and reduced activation levels) were significantly improved in participants with persistent suppression of viral replication over the 48 weeks of the study. Baseline HIV RNA copy number was lower (median, 14,784 copies/ml) in persons who responded virologically than in those not suppressing viral replication (median, 49,454 copies/ml). CD4+ cell counts above the median (125/mm(3)) at time 0 for the participants, was the only baseline immunologic marker significantly associated with viral suppression at week 48. Participants older than 40 years of age demonstrated less immunologic recovery. The results of the study show that patients with extensive experience with NRTIs respond both virologically and immunologically during the first 48 weeks of therapy with a potent antiretroviral regimen.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antigens, CD; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Biomarkers; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Dideoxynucleosides; Double-Blind Method; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Stavudine; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Management of antiretroviral treatment failure in patients receiving protease inhibitor (PI)-containing regimens is a therapeutic challenge.. To assess whether adding a second PI improves antiviral efficacy of a 4-drug combination in patients with virologic failure while taking a PI-containing regimen.. Multicenter, randomized, 4-arm trial, double-blind and placebo-controlled for second PI, conducted between October 1998 and April 2000, for which there was a 24-week primary analysis with extension to 48 weeks.. Thirty-one participating AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) Clinical Trials Units in the United States.. A total of 481 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons with prior exposure to a maximum of 3 PIs and viral load above 1000 copies/mL.. Selectively randomized assignment (per prior PI exposure) to saquinavir (n = 116); indinavir (n = 69); nelfinavir (n = 139); or placebo twice per day (n = 157); in combination with amprenavir, abacavir, efavirenz, and adefovir dipivoxil.. Primary efficacy analysis involved the proportion with viral load below 200 copies/mL at 24 weeks. Other measures were changes in viral load and CD4 cell count from baseline, adverse events, and HIV drug susceptibility.. Of 481 patients, 148 (31%) had a viral load below 200 copies/mL at week 24. The proportions of patients with a viral load below 200 copies/mL in the saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, and placebo arms were 34% (40/116), 36% (25/69), 34% (47/139), and 23% (36/157), respectively. The proportion in the combined dual-PI arms was higher than in the amprenavir-plus-placebo arm (35% [112/324] vs 23% [36/157], respectively; P =.002). Overall, a higher proportion of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-naive patients had a viral load below 200 copies/mL compared with NNRTI-experienced patients (43% [115/270] vs 16% [33/211], respectively; P<.001). Baseline HIV-1 hypersusceptibility to efavirenz (< or = 0.4-fold difference in susceptibility compared with reference virus) was associated with suppression of viral load at 24 weeks to below 200 copies/mL (odds ratio [OR], 3.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-7.33; P =.001), and more than 10-fold reduction in efavirenz susceptibility, with less likelihood of suppression at 24 weeks (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.09-0.87; P =.03).. In this study of antiretroviral-experienced patients with advanced immunodeficiency, viral load suppression to below 200 copies/mL was achieved in 31% of patients with regimens containing 4 or 5 new drugs. Use of 2 PIs, being naive to NNRTIs, and baseline hypersusceptibility to efavirenz were associated with a favorable outcome.

Topics: Adenine; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Disease Progression; Double-Blind Method; Drug Resistance, Viral; Female; Furans; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Nelfinavir; Organophosphonates; Oxazines; Proportional Hazards Models; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Saquinavir; Sulfonamides; Treatment Failure; Viral Load

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared efavirenz (600 mg every 24 h) plus indinavir (1000 mg every 8 h) with placebo (every 24 h) plus indinavir (800 mg every 8 h) among 327 nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-experienced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults. Patients received 50 cells/mm(3), >10,000 plasma HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, and no prior protease inhibitor or non-NRTI therapy. Patients had a mean of 2.8 years of prior NRTI therapy. At 24 weeks, plasma HIV-1 RNA level was <400 copies/mL in 68.2% of efavirenz versus 52.4% of placebo recipients (P=.004). CD4 cell count increases were 104+/-9 cells/mm(3) and 77+/-10 cells/mm(3) in efavirenz and placebo recipients, respectively (P=.023). Responses in efavirenz recipients were sustained at 48 weeks. Thus, efavirenz plus indinavir with concomitant NRTIs is effective therapy for NRTI-experienced patients.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Viral Load

Efavirenz, a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase, is a promising addition to the antiretroviral armamentarium. Efavirenz levels and HIV-1 RNA levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of 10 HIV-1-infected patients taking efavirenz, 600 mg daily, in combination with other antiretroviral medications. Efavirenz was detected in the CSF at a mean concentration of 35.1 nM (range, 6. 6-58.9 nM), which was above the IC95 for wild-type HIV-1. The mean CSF-to-plasma ratio was 0.61% (range, 0.26%-0.99%). CSF HIV-1 RNA levels were ascertained in 9 of the patients; all were <400 copies/mL after a mean of 26 weeks on therapy. Eight of the 9 patients had no detectable virus in plasma. These results indicate that efavirenz is present in the CSF at low levels and is effective in suppressing CSF viral levels when used in combination therapy.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Efavirenz is a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We compared two regimens containing efavirenz, one with a protease inhibitor and the other with two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, with a standard three-drug regimen.. The study subjects were 450 patients who had not previously been treated with lamivudine or any nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor or protease inhibitor. In this open-label study, patients were randomly assigned to one of three regimens: efavirenz (600 mg daily) plus zidovudine (300 mg twice daily) and lamivudine (150 mg twice daily); the protease inhibitor indinavir (800 mg every eight hours) plus zidovudine and lamivudine; or efavirenz plus indinavir (1000 mg every eight hours).. Suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA to undetectable levels was achieved in more patients in the group given efavirenz plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors than in the group given indinavir plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (70 percent vs. 48 percent, P<0.001). The efficacy of the regimen of efavirenz plus indinavir was similar (53 percent) to that of the regimen of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine. CD4 cell counts increased significantly with all combinations (range of increases, 180 to 201 cells per cubic millimeter). More patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events in the group given indinavir and two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors than in the group given efavirenz and two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (43 percent vs. 27 percent, P=0.005).. As antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected adults, the combination of efavirenz, zidovudine, and lamivudine has greater antiviral activity and is better tolerated than the combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Zidovudine

Study 006 is a pivotal Phase III, multicentre, randomized, open-label study designed to compare the antiretroviral activity and tolerability of efavirenz (EFV) + zidovudine (AZT) + lamivudine (3TC) with indinavir (IDV) + AZT + 3TC and EFV + IDV. Using both the 'observed data' analysis and intent-to-treat non-completer = failure analysis, the results at 48 weeks showed that efavirenz, in combination with AZT + 3TC was superior to IDV + AZT + 3TC. EFV + AZT + IDV was shown to be equally effective in patients with high and low baseline viral loads. Toxicities resulting in premature discontinuations were 3-fold higher in the IDV + AZT + 3TC arm than in both efavirenz-containing arms. Preliminary results suggested that efavirenz increased high density lipid (HDL) levels but the clinical significance of this observation is unknown. The results from Study 006 indicate that the combination EFV + AZT + 3TC is a highly active protease inhibitor-sparing regimen for first-line treatment of HIV-infected patients.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Lipid Metabolism; Oxazines; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Zidovudine

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Indinavir; Organic Chemicals; Oxazines; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome; Zidovudine

Results of a 48-week phase II trial of efavirenz (SUSTIVA, formerly DMP 266) in combination with indinavir resulted in an average viral load reduction of 2.38 out of a possible 2.49 logs. A comparison group, receiving only indinavir for 48 weeks, had a 1.89 log average reduction out of a possible 2.42 logs. Efavirenz, produced by DuPont Merck, is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that is effective against many HIV variants and resistance also develops slowly. Data from another study on efavirenz will be reported at the Sixth European Conference on Clinical Aspects and Treatment of HIV Infection, October 11-15 in Hamburg, Germany. The additional number that is used to report viral load measurements is explained.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Viral Load

The highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can cause a metabolic syndrome consisting of lipodystropy/lipoatrophy, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus with an increased cardiovascular risk. The pathogenetic bases of HAART-associated lipodystrophy are poorly known. A genetic screen was used to evaluate proteins that are modulated in HIV-1-infected patients with or without lipodystrophy syndrome, that are routinely treated with HAART regimens. The most significant modulation was represented by FAP48 expression. Stable over-expression of FAP48 was able to alter, in vitro, adipogenesis, acting both on calcineurin and glucocorticoid pathways. Finally, we demonstrated that FAP48 over-expression was able to influence the capacity of some HIV drugs, Saquinavir and Efavirenz, but not Stavudine, Amprenavir, and Indinavir to inhibit adipocyte formation. In conclusion, this molecule could be a potential target for novel therapeutic approaches to the HAART related lipodystrophy in HIV patients.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Adipocytes; Alkynes; Animals; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Calcineurin; Carbamates; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cyclopropanes; Furans; Gene Expression; Glucocorticoids; HIV-1; HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; Humans; Indinavir; Mice; Saquinavir; Signal Transduction; Stavudine; Sulfonamides; Transfection

Long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection shows limitations in pharmacokinetics and biodistribution while inducing metabolic and cytotoxic aberrations. In turn, ART commonly requires complex dosing schedules and leads to the emergence of viral resistance and treatment failures. We posit that the development of nanoformulated ART could preclude such limitations and affect improved clinical outcomes. To this end, we wet-milled 20 nanoparticle formulations of crystalline indinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, and efavirenz, collectively referred to as "nanoART," then assessed their performance using a range of physicochemical and biological tests. These tests were based on cell-nanoparticle interactions using monocyte-derived macrophages and their abilities to uptake and release nanoformulated drugs and affect viral replication. We demonstrate that physical characteristics such as particle size, surfactant coating, surface charge, and most importantly shape are predictors of cell uptake and antiretroviral efficacy. These studies bring this line of research a step closer to developing nanoART that can be used in the clinic to affect the course of HIV-1 infection.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Macrophages; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanoparticles; Oligopeptides; Particle Size; Pyridines; Ritonavir; Static Electricity; Surface-Active Agents; Virus Replication

Animal pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution assays of antiretroviral therapeutic drugs require accurate drug quantification in biological fluids and tissues. Here we report a simple, rapid, and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of commonly used antiretroviral drugs ritonavir (RTV), indinavir (IDV), atazanavir (ATV), and efavirenz (EFV) in mouse serum and tissues (liver, kidney, lung, and spleen). These antiretroviral drugs are currently the cornerstones of common therapeutic regimens for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a gradient mobile phase (5% acetonitrile in methanol and 7.5mM ammonium acetate (pH 4.0)) on an ACQUITY UPLC(®)BEH Shield RP 18 column. All compounds eluted within a 7 min run time. Lopinavir was used as an internal standard. Detection was achieved by dual positive and negative ionization modes on a quadrupole linear ion trap hybrid mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. The dynamic range was 0.2-1000 ng/mL for RTV, IDV, and ATV, and 0.5-1000 for EFV. The method was validated and showed high and consistent intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision for all analytes. This method is used to support the preclinical development studies of targeted- and sustained-release combination ART (nanoART). The current data demonstrate a 1.5-4 fold increase in serum and tissue AUC of nanoformulated ATV, RTV, and EFV administered to mice when compared to native drug. In addition, the tested formulation enhanced exposure of the same anti-HIV drugs in mouse tissues.

Topics: Alkynes; Animal Structures; Animals; Anti-HIV Agents; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oligopeptides; Pyridines; Ritonavir; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Nanoformulations of crystalline indinavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, and efavirenz were manufactured by wet milling, homogenization or sonication with a variety of excipients. The chemical, biological, immune, virological, and toxicological properties of these formulations were compared using an established monocyte-derived macrophage scoring indicator system. Measurements of drug uptake, retention, release, and antiretroviral activity demonstrated differences amongst preparation methods. Interestingly, for drug cell targeting and antiretroviral responses the most significant difference among the particles was the drug itself. We posit that the choice of drug and formulation composition may ultimately affect clinical utility.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Cell Survival; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Cyclopropanes; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Indinavir; Macrophages; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Oligopeptides; Pyridines; Ritonavir; Sonication

Most HPLC-UV methods for therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-HIV drugs have long run times, which reduce their applicability for high-throughput analysis. We developed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-diode array detection method for the simultaneous quantification of the HIV-protease inhibitors (PIs) amprenavir, atazanavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and tipranavir (TPV), and the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) efavirenz and nevirapine.. Solid-phase extraction of 1 mL plasma was performed with Waters HLB cartridges. After 3 wash steps, we eluted the drugs with methanol, evaporated the alcohol, and reconstituted the residue with 50 microL methanol. We injected a 4-microL volume into the UPLC system (Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C8 column maintained at 60 degrees C) and used a linear gradient of 50 mmol/L ammonium acetate and 50 mmol/L formic acid in water versus acetonitrile to achieve chromatographic separation of the drugs and internal standard (A-86093). Three wavelengths (215, 240, and 260 nm) were monitored.. All drugs were eluted within 15 min. Calibration curves with concentrations of 0.025-10 mg/L (1.875-75 mg/L for TPV) showed coefficients of determination (r(2)) between 0.993 and 0.999. The lower limits of quantification were well below the trough concentrations reported in the literature. Inter- and intraassay CVs and the deviations between the nominal and measured concentrations were <15%. The method was validated by successful participation in an international interlaboratory QC program.. This method allows fast and simultaneous quantification of all commercially available PIs and NNRTIs for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Topics: Alkynes; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Furans; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oligopeptides; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Pyrones; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sensitivity and Specificity; Solid Phase Extraction; Sulfonamides

Topics: Adenine; Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Hepatitis D, Chronic; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Lopinavir; Male; Nephrolithiasis; Oligopeptides; Organophosphonates; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Stavudine; Tenofovir

Factors limiting the efficacy of conventional antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection include treatment adherence, pharmacokinetics and penetration into viral sanctuaries. These affect the rate of viral mutation and drug resistance. In attempts to bypass such limitations, nanoparticles containing ritonavir, indinavir and efavirenz (described as nanoART) were manufactured to assess macrophage-based drug delivery.. NanoART were made by high-pressure homogenization of crystalline drug with various surfactants. Size, charge and shape of the nanoparticles were assessed. Monocyte-derived macrophage nanoART uptake, drug release, migration and cytotoxicity were determined. Drug levels were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.. Efficient monocyte-derived macrophage cytoplasmic vesicle uptake in less than 30 min based on size, charge and coating was observed. Antiretroviral drugs were released over 14 days and showed dose-dependent reduction in progeny virion production and HIV-1 p24 antigen. Cytotoxicities resulting from nanoART carriage were limited.. These results support the continued development of macrophage-mediated nanoART carriage for HIV-1 disease.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cyclopropanes; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Macrophages; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Monocytes; Nanoparticles; Ritonavir

The authors describe a patient with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection who presented with two generalized seizures and was found to have extensive white matter disease and a left/bilateral temporo-occipital focal slowing on electroencephalography (EEG). There were no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indications for opportunistic infection. Plasma viremia was controlled, whereas viral replication was uncontrolled in CSF. CSF-specific genotype-guided adaptation of the antiretroviral therapy in order to optimize central nervous system (CNS) penetration resulted in clinical improvement and normalization of MRI and EEG. Our case report illustrates the importance of individualized antiretroviral therapy in HIV infected patients with neurological complications.

Topics: Adenine; Adult; AIDS Dementia Complex; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Anticonvulsants; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oligopeptides; Organophosphonates; Pyridines; Ritonavir; Seizures; Stavudine; Tenofovir; Viral Load; Virus Replication; Zidovudine

HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, but the contribution of inflammation versus antiretroviral drugs is not well understood. Fibrinogen is an inflammatory factor associated with atherosclerosis.. A total of 1131 HIV-infected patients and 281 controls [from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a population-based study of cardiovascular risk assessment] in the Study of Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV infection (FRAM) had plasma fibrinogen levels measured. Multivariable linear regression identified factors associated with fibrinogen.. HIV-infected patients had higher levels of fibrinogen compared with controls (males: 25 mg/dl higher, P = 0.006; females: 21 mg/dl higher, P = 0.39). Among HIV-infected persons, median levels of fibrinogen were 11% higher in patients currently using any protease inhibitor (PI) compared with those not using a PI (P < 0.0001). The strongest univariate associations were with the individual PIs, ritonavir and indinavir. Patients taking indinavir boosted with ritonavir had median fibrinogen levels 8% higher than those on indinavir alone (P = 0.049). Lower levels of fibrinogen were seen in those HIV-infected patients currently using any nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) compared to those not using an NNRTI (nevirapine -14.4%, P < 0.0001; efavirenz -7%, P = 0.0002). The associations of ritonavir, indinavir, efavirenz and nevirapine with fibrinogen levels persisted after multivariable analysis and were independent of other antiretroviral use.. Protease inhibitor use is associated with elevated fibrinogen levels which may contribute to increased risk of atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients. Conversely, NNRTI use is associated with lower fibrinogen levels which may decrease risk of atherosclerosis.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Case-Control Studies; Cyclopropanes; Female; Fibrinogen; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Linear Models; Male; Nevirapine; Protease Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir

An efficient, isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) in plasma is advantageous for laboratories participating in clinical trials and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) programs, or conducting small animal research. The combination of isocratic reversed phase chromatography using an S-3, 3.0 mm x 150 mm column along with low plasma volume (200 microl), rapid liquid-liquid extraction, and detection at a single wavelength (212 nm) over a short run time makes this method valuable. Within and between assay variability ranges from 0.8 to 3.5% and 1.2-6.2%, respectively. Accuracy ranges from 91.0 to 112.8% for four quality controls (50, 100, 1000, and 10,000 ng/ml) for all drugs measured (efavirenz, nevirapine, amprenavir, atazanavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir).

Topics: Alkynes; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Furans; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oligopeptides; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Sulfonamides

An accurate, sensitive and simple reverse-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitative determination of tipranavir with nine other antiretroviral drugs in plasma. A liquid-liquid extraction of the drugs in tert-butylmethylether (TBME) from 200 microL of plasma is followed by a reversed phase gradient HPLC assay with UV detection at 210 nm. The standard curve for the drug was linear in the range of 80-80,000 ng/mL for tipranavir; 10-10,000 ng/mL for nevirapine, indinavir, efavirenz, and saquinavir; and 25-10,000 ng/mL for amprenavir, atazanavir, ritonavir, lopinavir, and nelfinavir. The regression coefficient (r(2)) was greater than 0.998 for all analytes. This method has been fully validated and shown to be specific, accurate and precise. Due to an excellent extraction procedure giving good recovery and a clean baseline, this method is simple, rapid, accurate and provides excellent resolution and peak shape for all analytes. Thus this method is very suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Stability; Furans; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Molecular Structure; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oligopeptides; Oxazines; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Pyrones; Reproducibility of Results; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Sulfonamides; Time Factors

The effects of HIV infection, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and specific antiretroviral agents on lipoproteins in women are not well described.. In a cross-sectional substudy of the Women's Interagency HIV Study with 623 HIV-negative and 1556 HIV-positive women (636 untreated, 419 on non-protease inhibitor [PI] HAART, and 501 on PI-containing HAART), we performed multivariate analyses of associations among fasting lipoprotein levels, HIV infection, and HAART.. Untreated HIV-positive women had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and higher triglycerides (TGs) but not lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) than HIV-negative women and were the most likely to have unfavorable HDL-C by National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. PI HAART users had higher LDL-C than untreated HIV-infected women (107 vs. 100 mg/dL, P = 0.0006) and were the most likely to have unfavorable LDL-C and TGs by NCEP guidelines. HIV-negative women and non-PI HAART users had similar HDL-C levels (55 and 53 mg/dL, respectively), which were higher than those in untreated HIV-infected women and PI HAART users (42 and 49 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.001 for all). Lamivudine, didanosine, nevirapine, and efavirenz were independently associated with higher HDL-C (P < 0.001 for all). Ritonavir, indinavir/ritonavir, and nelfinavir were associated with higher LDL-C (P < 0.01 for all). Stavudine, abacavir, and all ritonavir-containing regimens were associated with higher TGs (P < 0.05 for all), and tenofovir was associated with lower TGs (P = 0.009).. A dyslipidemic pattern was associated with HIV infection itself, was more severe in users of PI-containing HAART, but was not present in women taking non-PI HAART.

Topics: Adenine; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Black People; Cholesterol; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Dideoxynucleosides; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fasting; Female; Hispanic or Latino; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV Seronegativity; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Lipids; Lipoproteins, HDL; Lipoproteins, LDL; Multivariate Analysis; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Organophosphonates; Ritonavir; Stavudine; Tenofovir; Triglycerides; United States; White People

The pathogenesis of metabolic disturbances in treated HIV infection is incompletely understood.. Relationships between fasted metabolic parameters, body composition, and drug plasma concentrations were investigated in 59 patients who switched from failed nucleoside analogue treatment to ritonavir-boosted indinavir and efavirenz therapy. Metabolic parameters, peripheral fat, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and drug plasma concentrations were measured prospectively.. Ritonavir exposure was found to be negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) changes, with a 2.4% decrease in HDL-c for each unit increase in ritonavir concentration ratio. Significant associations between indinavir or efavirenz concentrations and metabolic disturbances were not observed. Total cholesterol (TC) correlated positively with high body mass index (BMI) and negatively with baseline limb fat mass: each unit increase in BMI and each kilogram reduction in baseline limb fat corresponded with a TC increase of 2.4% and 4.1%, respectively. Baseline triglyceride levels were lower in those patients with relatively greater limb fat mass: each kilogram reduction of total limb fat mass was associated with a 15.7% increase in triglyceride concentration. Changes in VAT were positively correlated with TC: for every unit TC increase a 0.3% VAT increase was observed (over 48 weeks).. Reduced limb fat mass at the start of the study treatment, increases in VAT mass, and higher plasma concentrations of ritonavir on study treatment were each--to varying degrees--associated with various metabolic disturbances.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Body Composition; Body Fat Distribution; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL; Cyclopropanes; Extremities; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; Humans; Indinavir; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Male; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Thailand; Triglycerides

The reduction of neutrophils apoptosis is one of the main non-virological effects of protease inhibitor (PI) therapy. We explore here whether this may be due to the cross-inhibition of calpain, an important non-virological target of PI in vitro. We found that the high basal level of neutrophils apoptosis in AIDS patients is strictly related to an increased intracellular calpain activity. Both alterations disappear after PI treatment, with apoptosis and calpain going back to normal levels after 3 months of PI therapy, independently of a proficient antiviral effect. PI drugs exerted a similar antiapoptotic and anticalpain effects on neutrophils in ex vivo experiments: strikingly, the effects were mimicked by commercially available calpain inhibitors. This study shows, for the first time, that apoptosis of neutrophils in AIDS patients is mediated by calpain, and that neutrophil survival in PI treated AIDS patients is a non virological effect due to calpain inhibition.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Alkynes; Apoptosis; Benzoxazines; Calpain; Case-Control Studies; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cells, Cultured; Cyclopropanes; Female; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Kinetics; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Neutrophils; Oxazines; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Zidovudine

To examine the effect of antiretroviral agents and clinical factors on the development of elevated blood pressure (BP).. Observational cohort study of patients initiating their first HAART regimen. We evaluated mean BP prior to HAART and while receiving HAART in relation to antiretroviral classes and individual agents, and demographic and clinical characteristics including change in body mass index (BMI) while on HAART. We used logistic regression analysis to examine factors associated with elevated BP [> or = 10 mmHg increase in systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) or new diagnosis of hypertension].. Among 444 patients who had 4592 BP readings, 95 patients developed elevated SBP (n = 83), elevated DBP (n = 33), or a new diagnosis of hypertension (n = 11) after initiating HAART. In multivariate analysis, patients on lopinavir/ritonavir had the highest risk of developing elevated BP [odds ratio (OR), 2.5; P = 0.03] compared with efavirenz-based regimens. When change in BMI was added to the model, increased BMI was significantly associated with elevated BP (OR, 1.3; P = 0.02), and the association between lopinavir/ritonavir and elevated BP was no longer present. Compared with lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimens, patients receiving atazanavir (OR, 0.2; P = 0.03), efavirenz (OR, 0.4; P = 0.02), nelfinavir (OR, 0.3; P = 0.02), or indinavir (OR, 0.3; P = 0.01) had significantly lower odds of developing elevated BP.. Treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir is significantly associated with elevated BP, an effect that appears to be mediated through an increase in BMI. Patients receiving atazanavir were least likely to develop elevated BP. The impact of antiretroviral medications on cardiovascular disease risk factors will increasingly influence treatment decisions.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Female; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Hypertension; Indinavir; Longitudinal Studies; Lopinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Nelfinavir; Oligopeptides; Oxazines; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Risk Factors; Ritonavir

Topics: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Treatment with indinavir (IDV), a protease inhibitor, is frequently associated with renal abnormalities. We determined the incidence of renal failure (creatinine clearance <80 mL min-1 1.73 (m(2))-1) in HIV patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, including IDV, and investigated the possible mechanisms and risk factors of IDV nephrotoxicity. Thirty-six patients receiving IDV were followed for 3 years. All were assessed for age, body weight, duration of infection, duration of IDV treatment, sulfur-derivative use, total cholesterol, triglycerides, magnesium, sodium, potassium, creatinine, and urinalysis. We also determined renal function in terms of creatinine clearance, urine osmolality and fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, and water. Urinary nitrate (NO3) excretion was measured in 18 IDV-treated patients and compared with that of 8 patients treated with efavirenz, a drug without renal side effects. Sterile leukocyturia occurred in 80.5% of the IDV-treated patients. Creatinine clearance <80 mL min-1 1.73 (m(2))-1 was observed in 22 patients (61%) and was associated with low body weight and the use of sulfur-derivatives. These patients also had lower osmolality, lower urine volume and a higher fractional excretion of water compared to the normal renal function group. Urinary NO3 excretion was significantly lower in IDV-treated patients (809 +/- 181 microM NO3-/mg creatinine) than in efavirenz-treated patients (2247 +/- 648 microM NO3-/mg creatinine, P < 0.01). The lower NO3 excretion suggests that IDV decreases nitric oxide production.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Biomarkers; Creatinine; Cyclopropanes; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrates; Nitrites; Oxazines; Prospective Studies; Renal Insufficiency; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Risk Factors

Protease inhibitors are highly bound to orosomucoid (ORM) (alpha1-acid glycoprotein), an acute-phase plasma protein encoded by 2 polymorphic genes, which may modulate their disposition. Our objective was to determine the influence of ORM concentration and phenotype on indinavir, lopinavir, and nelfinavir apparent clearance (CL(app)) and cellular accumulation. Efavirenz, mainly bound to albumin, was included as a control drug.. Plasma and cells samples were collected from 434 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Total plasma and cellular drug concentrations and ORM concentrations and phenotypes were determined.. Indinavir CL(app) was strongly influenced by ORM concentration (n = 36) (r2 = 0.47 [P = .00004]), particularly in the presence of ritonavir (r2 = 0.54 [P = .004]). Lopinavir CL(app) was weakly influenced by ORM concentration (n = 81) (r2 = 0.18 [P = .0001]). For both drugs, the ORM1 S variant concentration mainly explained this influence (r2 = 0.55 [P = .00004] and r2 = 0.23 [P = .0002], respectively). Indinavir CL(app) was significantly higher in F1F1 individuals than in F1S and SS patients (41.3, 23.4, and 10.3 L/h [P = .0004] without ritonavir and 21.1, 13.2, and 10.1 L/h [P = .05] with ritonavir, respectively). Lopinavir cellular exposure was not influenced by ORM abundance and phenotype. Finally, ORM concentration or phenotype did not influence nelfinavir (n = 153) or efavirenz (n = 198) pharmacokinetics.. ORM concentration and phenotype modulate indinavir pharmacokinetics and, to a lesser extent, lopinavir pharmacokinetics but without influencing their cellular exposure. This confounding influence of ORM should be taken into account for appropriate interpretation of therapeutic drug monitoring results. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the measure of unbound drug plasma concentration gives more meaningful information than total drug concentration for indinavir and lopinavir.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Cohort Studies; Cyclopropanes; Female; Genetic Variation; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Male; Middle Aged; Nelfinavir; Orosomucoid; Oxazines; Phenotype; Pyrimidinones; Ritonavir; Switzerland

Chronic viral hepatitis is common among persons with HIV-1 infection, because of shared modes of transmission, and coinfection results in accelerated liver damage, compared with persons with chronic viral hepatitis alone. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a significant decrease in the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV-1 infection. A number of the medications that are commonly used in HAART regimens are metabolized by the hepatic CYP enzymes, which raises the possibility of significant interactions between antiretroviral medications and hepatic impairment induced by chronic viral hepatitis. Although the data are still very scant, the pharmacokinetics of several antiretroviral medications have been shown to be significantly altered in the presence of liver disease. In the present report, we review the available data and consider potential options, such as dose adjustment and therapeutic drug monitoring, for the administration of antiretroviral therapy to patients with significant hepatic impairment.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hepatitis; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Liver Function Tests; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Protease Inhibitors; Pyrimidinones; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Zidovudine

Several studies suggest that therapeutic drug monitoring of protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors may contribute to the clinical outcome of HIV-infected patients. Because of the growing number of antiretroviral drugs and of drug combinations than can be administered to these patients, an accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method allowing the simultaneous determination of these drugs may be useful. To date, the authors present the first simultaneous HPLC determination of the new protease inhibitor atazanavir with all the others currently in use (M8 nelfinavir metabolite included) and the 2 widely used nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors efavirenz and nevirapine. This simple HPLC method allows the analysis all these drugs at a single ultraviolet wavelength following a 1-step liquid-liquid extraction procedure. A 500-muL plasma sample was spiked with internal standard and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction using by diethyl ether at pH 10. HPLC was performed using a Symmetry Shield RP18 and gradient elution. All the drugs of interest and internal standard were detected with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm. Calibration curves were linear in the range 50-10,000 ng/mL. The observed concentrations of the quality controls at plasma concentrations ranging from 50 to 5000 ng/mL for these drugs showed that the overall accuracy varied from 92% to 104% and 92% to 106% for intraday and day-to-day analysis, respectively. No metabolites of the assayed compounds or other drugs commonly coadministered to HIV-positive patients were found to coelute with the drugs of interest or with the internal standard. This assay was developed for the purpose of therapeutic monitoring (TDM) in HIV-infected patients.

Topics: Alkynes; Atazanavir Sulfate; Benzoxazines; Calibration; Carbamates; Chromatography, Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Stability; Furans; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oligopeptides; Oxazines; Pyridines; Pyrimidinones; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Specimen Handling; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Sulfonamides

The incidence of HIV-1-related infection diseases and the mortality of AIDS have dramatically decreased since highly active antiretroviral therapy began to be used clinically in China in 1999. And we initiated a second clinical trial using a combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir to observe the effects of the immunoreaction.. Twenty patients with laboratory-confirmed chronic HIV-1 infection were recruited. Blood samples were collected initially and during the weeks after initiation of treatment. Within 48 hours of blood sampling, peripheral blood plasma and mononuclear cells were separated using routine methods. HIV-1 viral load was measured in thawed plasma samples. Within 48 hours of peripheral blood sampling, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets were enumerated.. The drug regimen was efficient in reducing HIV-1 plasma viral load and increasing total CD4(+) T cell counts. The percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets expressing CD38 and HLA-DR activation markers was positively correlated with plasma viral load and tended to normalize.. The combination of Efavirenz and Indinavir was generally well tolerated and efficient at reducing HIV-1 RNA. Furthermore, the treatment improved the immunological function.

Topics: ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; Adult; Aged; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antigens, CD; Benzoxazines; CD4-CD8 Ratio; Chronic Disease; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Middle Aged; Oxazines; Viral Load

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the prognosis of HIV-1-infected patients but is associated with significant side effects such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular complications. Oxidative stress can disrupt endothelial homeostasis by dysregulating the balance between pro- and antiatherogenic factors. We hypothesized that chronic exposure to HAART results in endothelial oxidative stress and activation of mononuclear cell recruitment, an early event in atherosclerosis. We studied the effects of HAART drug combinations, consisting of zidovudine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; efavirenz, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; and either of the two protease inhibitors (PIs), indinavir or nelfinavir, on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) by monitoring the following parameters: (1) generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (2) mono-nuclear cell (Jurkat or U-937) adhesion, and (3) expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). HAART exposure increased ROS formation in HAECs. Exposure to PIs alone and in HAART combinations increased mononuclear cell adhesion to HAECs in a concentration-dependent manner. Mononuclear cell adhesion to HAART-exposed HAECs was significantly enhanced following acute (24-h) exposure to the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha or interleukin (IL)-1beta and was suppressed by the antioxidants N-ace-tylcysteine and glutathione. Exposure to HAART increased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression and concomitant exposure to TNF-alpha further increased ICAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule cell surface protein levels. These studies indicate that chronic HAART exposure increases oxidative stress in endothelial cells and induces mononuclear cell recruitment, which may eventually precipitate the cardiovascular diseases observed in HIV-1+ individuals on antiretroviral therapy.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Alkynes; Antioxidants; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cell Adhesion; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cells, Cultured; Cyclopropanes; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium, Vascular; Gene Expression; Glutathione; Humans; Indinavir; Interleukin-1; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Oxazines; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Stavudine; Viral Load; Viremia; Zidovudine

The increasing interest in applying therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to antiretroviral therapy is related to the observed interindividual variation in antiretroviral pharmacokinetics that results in a wide range of drug exposure from fixed-dosing regimens and the rapid evolution in the availability of phenotypic assays that generate a target 50% inhibitory concentration (e.g., IC(50)) as a basis for adjusting individual antiretroviral dosages. To facilitate the application of TDM, a method for the simultaneous determination of eight species has been developed. This method is used to quantitate efavirenz and the following protease inhibitors: amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir and its active metabolite (M8), ritonavir, and saquinavir. The method using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was validated. Detection is effected using a photodiode-array detector (PDA) scanning at four different wavelengths. This method allows for detection of all analytes to a lower limit of quantitation of 0.1 to 0.2 microg/mL with an interday variation in CV ranging from 3.5% to 10.4%. The method is being applied to a TDM program that is currently being implemented in the authors' laboratory.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Furans; Heparin; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Pyrimidinones; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sulfonamides

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Thailand; Viral Load

To analyze factors associated with long-term (>or=2 years) suppression of virus load (VL), we performed a nested case-control analysis of 1235 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outpatient Study cohort participants who were well characterized by multiple VL and CD4(+) cell count determinations. Of these patients, 286 (23.1%) had maintained undetectable VLs (i.e., <400 copies/mm(3) or <50 copies/mm(3)) for >or=2 years. Being treatment naive at the start of antiretroviral therapy was associated with a greater likelihood of achieving long-term suppression of VL (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.0; P=.028). In multivariate models, abacavir, indinavir, efavirenz, and drug combinations that included both lamivudine and indinavir were the most effective treatments for achieving long-term suppression of VL (adjusted OR for each, >3.6; P value for each, <.01). Long-term suppression of VL is more likely in treatment-naive than in treatment-experienced patients, but there were several drugs--abacavir, efavirenz, indinavir, and drug combinations including lamivudine and indinavir--that appeared to be effective, whether they were part of a first or subsequent drug regimen.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cohort Studies; Cyclopropanes; Dideoxynucleosides; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Outpatients; Oxazines; Prospective Studies; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Viral Load

Addition of efavirenz (600 mg) to indinavir/ritonavir (800/100 mg) results in significant decreases in indinavir levels in healthy volunteers. This study evaluated the steady-state pharmacokinetics of indinavir/ritonavir at 800/100 mg twice daily (bid) in combination with efavirenz at 600 mg once daily (qd) in HIV-infected Thai subjects who used this nucleoside-sparing combination in The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration 009 study.. At week 4 of the study, 12-hour pharmacokinetic profiles for indinavir/ritonavir were obtained for 20 HIV-infected subjects. For efavirenz, the concentrations at 12 hours and 24 hours (Cmin) after dosing were assessed.. All subjects (10 males and 10 females) completed the study. The geometric mean area under the concentration versus time curve, Cmin, and maximum plasma concentration of indinavir were 45.7 mg/(L. h) (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.8-52.5), 0.32 mg/L (95% CI, 0.24-0.44), and 11.1 mg/L (95% CI, 9.4-13.0), respectively. A >10-fold variation in indinavir Cmin was observed. All subjects had an indinavir Cmin that was at least comparable with the reported mean population Cmin of indinavir at 800 mg thrice daily without ritonavir (0.15 mg/L). The geometric mean concentration at 12 hours and Cmin of efavirenz were 3.1 mg/L (95% CI, 2.5-3.7) and 2.1 mg/L (95% CI, 1.6-2.6), respectively.. Despite the known pharmacokinetic interaction between efavirenz and indinavir/ritonavir, the combination of indinavir/ritonavir at 800/100 mg bid and efavirenz at 600 mg qd results in adequate minimum concentrations of both indinavir and efavirenz for treatment-naive patients.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Oxazines; Ritonavir

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Male; Oxazines; Pyrimidinones; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Viral Load

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic assay has been developed for the determination of the six currently protease inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir) plus the M8 active metabolite of nelfinavir and the nonnucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor efavirenz in a single run. Pretreatment of 1-mL plasma sample spiked with internal standard was made by a solid-phase extraction procedure using a polymeric reversed-phase sorbent. Liquid chromatography was performed using a narrow-bore C18 reversed-phase column and gradient elution. Double ultraviolet detection at 265 nm (amprenavir) and at 210 nm (all other assayed drugs and internal standard) was used. Calibration curves were linear in the range 25 to 10,000 ng/mL, and the assay has been validated over the range 25 to 5,000 ng/mL. Average accuracies at four concentrations were in the range 92.4% to 103.0% and 94.4% to 103.0% for within-day and between-day, respectively, and the coefficients of variation were less than 8%. Mean absolute recoveries varied from 72.8% (ritonavir) to 93.7% (indinavir). No metabolite of the protease inhibitors was found to coelute with the drugs of interest or with the internal standard. At this time, among the tested drugs, especially all the currently licensed nucleosides and the other nonnucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor nevirapine that can be used in combination with the protease inhibitors, none was found to interfere with the assay.

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Monitoring; Furans; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Pyrimidinones; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sulfonamides

A selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of the six human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir) and the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (efavirenz and nevirapine) in a single run. After a liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether, the six protease inhibitors and the two non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are separated on a Stability RP18 column eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer 50 mmol/L pH 5.65. A sequential ultraviolet detection (5-minute sequence set at 240 nm for nevirapine acquisition, 22-minute sequence set at 215 nm for other antiretroviral drugs acquisition followed by a sequence set at 260 nm for internal standard acquisition) allowed for simultaneous quantitation of the six protease inhibitors, nevirapine, and efavirenz. Calibration curves were linear in the range 100 ng/mL to 10,000 ng/mL. The limit of quantitation was 50 ng/mL for all drugs except nevirapine (100 ng/mL). Average accuracy at four concentrations ranged from 88.2% to 110.9%. Both interday and intraday coefficients of variation were less than 11% for all drugs. The extraction recoveries were greater than 62%. This method is simple and shows a good specificity with respect to commonly co-prescribed drugs. This method allows accurate therapeutic monitoring of amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, efavirenz, and nevirapine.

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Monitoring; Furans; HIV Infections; Humans; Indinavir; Lopinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Protease Inhibitors; Pyrimidinones; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sulfonamides

To compare the clinical and economic outcomes associated with triple therapy containing efavirenz or indinavir and 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs; zidovudine and lamivudine) in HIV-positive patients.. An economic model based on viral load and CD4+ cell counts to predict long term outcomes such as progression to AIDS and AIDS-related death was developed and then analysed using data from a randomised clinical trial. Cost estimates from the healthcare system perspective were based on data from 6 state, all-payor databases, the AIDS Cost and Services Utilisation Study, and other literature. Analyses were carried out for time horizons between 5 and 15 years.. HIV-positive patients with limited exposure to NRTIs. Initial regimens consisted of efavirenz or indinavir, each combined with 2 NRTIs. A maximum of 2 switches to other regimens was permitted.. The efavirenz-containing triple therapy regimen was predicted to prolong survival at a savings of up to 10,923 US dollars (1998 values) relative to initial therapy with the indinavir-containing regimen. Patients who receive efavirenz are expected to have 11% greater survival at 5 years and fewer treatment failures (28 vs 52%, at 2 years). Overall, the economic and health benefits predicted for the efavirenz-containing regimen were robust to reasonable variation in key parameters.. The superior clinical trial outcomes for efavirenz-containing regimens should translate into substantial economic and health benefits.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Disease Progression; Drug Costs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Health Care Costs; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Models, Economic; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Industry; Economics, Pharmaceutical; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; United States

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cyclopropanes; Developing Countries; Drug Industry; Drugs, Generic; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; South Africa

We have tested for combined anti-HIV-1 effects of a hammerhead ribozyme and antiretroviral drugs and the possibility of reducing the drug burden of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The antiretroviral compounds used represent the three groups in HAART: nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. A human T cell line (HUT78), stably expressing a hammerhead ribozyme targeted to nef (hhRz.nef(9016-9029)), was infected with HIV-1(SF2) in the presence of a single drug. The combined effects on HIV-1 replication were measured by p24 antigen determinations over a 2-week period. In the presence of the ribozyme, smaller amounts of antiretroviral drugs were required to reduce the HIV-1 p24 levels equally as much as when only drugs were present. The results support a strategy of combining ribozyme gene therapy with HAART to improve the long-term outcome of anti-HIV-1 therapy.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Benzoxazines; Cell Line; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Protease Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Catalytic; T-Lymphocytes; Time Factors

An analytical technique using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI--MS) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of five protease inhibitors (PIs): saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, and amprenavir; and three non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): nevirapine, delavirdine, and efavirenz, in human plasma. This assay allows the elution and identification of these drugs in a single run (10 minutes) using a linear gradient with water and acetonitrile. The procedure involves liquid--liquid extraction. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation was achieved on a C18 reversed-phase column, with a linear gradient elution followed by mass spectrometry detection. The calibration curves, obtained by automatic process peak area integration, show a good linearity in a range of concentrations between 20 and 10,000 ng/mL (40--10,000 ng/mL for efavirenz). The limit of detection was approximately 10 ng/mL for seven drugs (25 ng/mL for efavirenz). The coefficients of variation (CV) were always less than 15% for both intraday and interday precision for each compound. The recovery of the eight drugs ranged from 88.5% to 100%. This novel LC/ESI--MS assay provides an excellent method for simultaneous quantitative monitoring of different components of the highly active antiretroviral treatments (HAARTs) in patients treated simultaneously with PIs and NNRTIs, and it has been successfully applied to therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies.

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Carbamates; Chromatography, Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Delavirdine; Drug Monitoring; Furans; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Mass Spectrometry; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sulfonamides

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Research Design; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Viral Load; Zidovudine

As part of an on-going study on the suitability of a formal therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antiviral drugs for improving the management of HIV infection, a high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed to quantify simultaneously in plasma five HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) (i.e., indinavir, amprenavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir) and the novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz. After viral inactivation by heat (60 degrees C for 60 min), plasma (600 microl), with clozapine added as internal standard, is diluted 1:1 with phosphate buffer, pH 7 and subjected to a solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge. Matrix components are eliminated with 2 x 500 microl of a solution of 0.1% H3PO4 neutralised with NaOH to pH 7. PIs and efavirenz are eluted with 3 x 500 microl MeOH. The resulting eluate is evaporated under nitrogen at room temperature and is reconstituted in 100 microl 50% MeOH. A 40-microl volume is subjected to HPLC analysis onto a Nucleosil 100, 5 microm C18 AB column, using a gradient elution of MeCN and phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 5.15 and containing 0.02% sodium heptanesulfonate: 15:85 at 0 min-->30:70 at 2 min-->32:68 at 8 min-->42:58 at 18 min-->46:54 at 34 min, followed by column cleaning with MeCN-buffer, pH 5.15 (90:10), onto which 0.3% AcOH is added. Clozapine, indinavir, amprenavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, efavirenz and nelfinavir are detected by UV at 201 nm at a retention time of 8.2, 13.0, 16.3, 21.5, 26.5, 28.7 and 31.9 min, respectively. The total run time for a single analysis is 47 min, including the washing-out and reequilibration steps. The calibration curves are linear over the range 100-10,000 ng/ml. The absolute recovery of PIs/efavirenz is always higher than 88%. The method is precise with mean inter-day relative standard deviations within 2.5-9.8% and accurate (range of inter-day deviations -4.6 to +4.3%). The in vitro stability of plasma spiked with PIs/efavirenz at 750, 3000 and 9000 ng/ml has been studied at room temperature, -20 degrees C and +60 degrees C. The method has been validated and is currently applied to the monitoring of PIs and efavirenz in HIV patients. This HPLC assay may help clinicians confronted to questionable compliance, side effects or treatment failure in elucidating whether patients are exposed to adequate circulating drug levels. The availability of such an assay represents an essential step in elucidating the utility of a formal TDM for the opt

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Calibration; Carbamates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclopropanes; Drug Stability; Furans; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Sulfonamides

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Didanosine; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Indinavir; Middle Aged; Nausea; Oxazines; Ritonavir

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Patient Selection; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Stavudine; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral

A new study shows that Sustiva (efavirenz) taken in combination with Stavudine (d4T) and Lamivudine (3TC) was effective in reducing viral load to below 400 copies/mL in all patients observed. Sustiva, manufactured by DuPont, was studied in a 48-week trial, and results were reported at the 9th European Conference of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Berlin. In a second study, Sustiva in combination with AZT/3TC or Indinavir showed a reduction in viral load in both vaginal and cerebrospinal fluids in two groups of patients.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Male; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Stavudine; Vagina; Viral Load; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Drug Evaluation; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV Reverse Transcriptase; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome; Viremia; Zidovudine

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Indinavir; Nelfinavir; Nevirapine; Oxazines; Ritonavir; Saquinavir; Stavudine

Efavirenz (Sustiva) is the first once-daily dosing anti-HIV drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) is highly potent and more convenient than other therapies, and is used to treat HIV-1 in both adults and pediatric patients. It is effective in combination therapy, and patients on efavirenz had fewer side effects than patients on other triple combinations therapies. It remains to be seen if efavirenz will be used in first-line therapy. Some reports show that patients who are taking other drugs that affect the central nervous system suffer additional central nervous system side effects from efavirenz. There are reports of cross-resistance with other drugs in the same class, and limited data that is available on fetal toxicity suggests that women of childbearing age need to be counseled carefully before taking this drug.

Topics: Adult; Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Child; Cyclopropanes; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Lamivudine; Oxazines; Patient Compliance; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Zidovudine

The Community Research Initiative on AIDS is currently screening potential volunteers for clinical trials. Current studies include the effects of protease inhibitors on blood sugar, the effectiveness of twice a day Crixivan dosing, the effectiveness of adefovir dipivoxil in combination with protease inhibitors, the effectiveness of DMP 266 in combination with several drugs, and the effects of Oxandrolone on weight loss in women. Participants will be reimbursed after enrollment. Contact information and eligibility requirements are included.

Topics: Adenine; Alkynes; Anabolic Agents; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Blood Glucose; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Male; Organophosphonates; Oxandrolone; Oxazines; Patient Selection; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Weight Loss

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; HIV-1; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; RNA, Viral; Stavudine

Dupont Merck announced that its experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor DMP 266 has shown viral load reductions to undetectable levels in eighty percent of study subjects. CD4 counts also increased among the study group. Other studies are underway to study DMP 266 at higher dosages and in combination with other drugs. Enrollment information is included.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drugs, Investigational; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Anti-HIV therapy research continues to show promising results and a research update is presented on the following antiviral topics: efavirenz (DMP 266, Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), indinavir plus ritonavir (Norvir), hard vs. soft gel saquinavir, nelfinavir (Viracept) cross-resistance, and T-20 (pentafuside). Tables present regimen results, including viral load drop and CD4 cell increases. Difficulties in preventing viral resistance are also discussed. Situations to avoid include using dosing schedules that do not sufficiently suppress the virus, waiting for viral load to return to pre-treatment levels before switching drugs, and not switching drugs to at least two new potent compounds when changing combination therapy. The challenge for patients who have failed previous drug therapies is to develop strategies that allow them to extend the effectiveness of their options long enough for at least two new potent drugs to become available.

Topics: Alkynes; Anti-HIV Agents; Benzoxazines; Cyclopropanes; Dosage Forms; Drug Therapy, Combination; HIV Infections; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Indinavir; Nelfinavir; Oxazines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Ritonavir; Saquinavir