title: Protease inhibitors are associated with a slowed progression of HIV-related renal diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While angiotensin-con-verting enzyme inhibitors and zidovudine may improve the course of the most common HIV-related renal disease, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), the effect of anti-retroviral combination therapy on this and other HIV-related renal diseases has not been assessed. This study describes the clinical course of HIV-related renal diseases and the effect of protease inhibitors on their progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study reviews the clinical course of 19 patients with a clinical or biopsy-proven diagnosis of HIVAN or other HIV-related renal diseases. Groups progressing and not progressing to ESRD were compared using longitudinal analyses to assess the association between creatinine clearance and clinical and therapeutic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cohort consisted of 16 African-Americans, 2 Caucasians and 1 Native American. Their modes of HIV infection were intravenous drug use (7), a history of men having sex with men (3) and heterosexual behavior (5). Patients were followed for a median of 16.6 months. Seven patients reached ESRD. Loss of creatinine clearance over time did not differ among genders, races, or patients with different modes of HIV infection. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated an association between protease inhibitors and prednisone and a slower decline in creatinine clearance in multivariable models (p = 0.04 and 0.003, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemiology and clinical course of HIV-related renal diseases is more heterogeneous than previously described. This study suggests a benefit to the use of protease inhibitors and prednisone on the progression of these nephropathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. szcze001@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Szczech
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Horst
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Heald
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Svetkey
mesh_terms: D016263:AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone