Directly observed antiretroviral therapy for injection drug users with HIV infection.
Injection drug users (IDUs) who are in a methadone maintenance therapy program are required to attend their drug treatment clinic on a regular basis for directly observed therapy (DOT). Such programs provide a unique opportunity to administer HAART to HIV-infected persons in this marginalized population in conjunction with their methadone therapy. A prospective observational study was conducted to determine the efficacy of directly observed antiretroviral therapy provided in conjunction with daily observed methadone maintenance therapy. A cohort of 39 patients was enrolled to receive HAART as DOT. At 48 weeks, 51% of antiretroviral-experienced patients and 65% of antiretroviral-naive patients had achieved maximum viral suppression. DOT should therefore be considered a potential option for providing HAART to IDUs, particularly when used in conjunction with methadone maintenance therapy.
Clarke
Susan
S
Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St James's Hospital, Dublin.
Keenan
Eamon
E
Ryan
Mairin
M
Barry
Michael
M
Mulcahy
Fiona
F
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents