title: [HIV protease inhibitors: general review].
abstract: Protease inhibitors are a new class of drugs which has demonstrated activity for the treatment of HIV infection. The function of the HIV protease is to split a polyprotein to create smaller proteins which will be incorporated in the structure of the virus. The eight cleavage sites of the polyprotein constitute a template for the synthesis of potential inhibitors. Today, only inhibitors of the Phe-Pro cleavage have shown an antiproteinase activity specific for HIV. Clinical trials in HIV infection with saquinavir, indinavir, and ritonavir have demonstrated a decrease in viral load measured by plasma HIV-RNA PCR and an increase in CD4 lymphocyte counts. The use of protease inhibitors leads to a more or less rapid selection of mutant resistant viruses. However, these new drugs, either used alone or in combination, constitute a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of HIV disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherche Clinique Quintiles Strasbourg, Lingolsheim, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boudes
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geiger
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors