Once-daily combination therapy with emtricitabine, didanosine, and efavirenz in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
The safety and efficacy of a once-daily regimen that combines emtricitabine, didanosine, and efavirenz was studied among 40 previously untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The median plasma HIV RNA level was 4.77 log(10) copies/mL at baseline and decreased by a median of 3.5 log(10) copies/mL at 24 weeks, with 98% and 93% of patients achieving plasma HIV RNA levels <400 and <50 copies/mL, respectively. The median CD4 cell count was 373 cells/microL at baseline and increased by a median of 159 cells/microL at week 24. The most common treatment-related adverse events were mild to moderate central nervous system symptoms (73% of patients), diarrhea (33%), rashes (10%), and biochemical abnormalities. Adverse reactions led to permanent drug discontinuation in only 1 patient. The once-daily combination therapy of emtricitabine, didanosine, and efavirenz was safe and demonstrated strong antiviral and immunologic effects that lasted for the 24-week period of the study.
Clinique des Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France. molina@chu-stlouis.fr
J M
JM
Molina
F
F
Ferchal
C
C
Rancinan
F
F
Raffi
W
W
Rozenbaum
D
D
Sereni
P
P
Morlat
V
V
Journot
J M
JM
Decazes
G
G
Chêne
D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016049:Didanosine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010078:Oxazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D010078:Oxazines; D012367:RNA, Viral; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068679:Emtricitabine; C098320:efavirenz; D016049:Didanosine