Choosing the right initial antiretroviral regimens
Norton, M.
Gmhc Treatment Issues the Gay Men's Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental Aids Therapies 13(2): 7-10
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-1824 PMID: 11366117 Document Number: 511668
Thirteen antiretrovirals are currently approved in the U.S., and possibly a dozen more will apply for approval within the next few years. At the same time, only about half of U.S. residents who are HIV-positive are on any kind of treatment. Choosing an effective initial therapy continues to be a major concern. Arguments strongly in favor of using a protease inhibitor (PI) in the initial regimen are included, as are arguments that PIs should be avoided in initial regimens. Pros and cons of beginning therapy with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are also described. Results from the Atlantic Study, which compares protease-containing and protease-sparing regimens, are briefly presented.