Protease inhibitors: a new weapon and a new strategy against HIV.
Until recently, reverse transcriptase inhibitors have been the mainstay for treating HIV infection. Now, three protease inhibitors have been approved. Early evidence suggests that triple therapy delays the progression of HIV infection. An understanding of these new drugs and treatment strategies is imperative for clinicians. This article (1) reviews HIV's structure and replication process, (2) discusses currently approved reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors, (3) describes the antiretroviral drugs' modes of action, (4) discusses important nursing implications for monitoring clients on these drugs, and (5) presents current scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of combination therapy strategies.
Phillips
K D
KD
University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019469:Indinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019258:Saquinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019469:Indinavir; D019258:Saquinavir; D019438:Ritonavir