title: Therapeutic effects of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on the central nervous system in HIV-1-infected patients.
abstract: Psychomotor slowing predicts the development of HIV-1-associated dementia, AIDS, and death independent of immune status. We retrospectively selected all patients who showed pathologic psychomotor slowing as a sign of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction before the onset of therapy and who were then treated with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors-either efavirenz (EFV) (n = 65 patients) or nevirapine (NVP) (n = 39 patients), each given in combination with two nucleoside analogues (NAs). Patients who were treated only with two NAs (n = 66) served as controls. Patients were observed for 6 months. Both EFV and NVP combinations improved CNS function as determined by electrophysiologic motor tests. The therapeutic effects of EFV and NVP did not depend on the type of NA added. Although results did not reach significance, NVP combinations were more effective than EFV combinations or therapy regimens with NAs alone in patients who were naïve to all antiretroviral therapy. EFV and NVP combinations were equally effective in patients pretreated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, including protease inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. giesenhj@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Hans Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: von Giesen
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köller
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theisen
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arendt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D010078:Oxazines; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019829:Nevirapine; C098320:efavirenz