Paediatric treatment issues.
Compared with the therapeutic options available for the treatment of HIV infection in adults, the therapeutic options available for the treatment of paediatric patients is limited. New anti-HIV agents are needed to broaden the range of effective therapeutic options. However, several factors need to be considered when treating HIV infection in paediatric patients. It is important that the antiviral combination is potent and has at least one agent with adequate CNS penetration. In addition, to aid adherence it is important that any new agent is administered once daily and that the paediatric formulation is palatable. Furthermore, a good safety profile and compatibility with other anti-HIV drugs is also important. Efavirenz has many properties that make it suitable for the treatment of HIV infection especially in paediatric patients. In addition, recent clinical evidence indicate that efavirenz will be a very useful drug for paediatric therapy.
Walters
S
S
St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College, London, UK.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D019888:Nelfinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010078:Oxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D010078:Oxazines; D019888:Nelfinavir; C098320:efavirenz