[Efficacy of efavirenz in a mixed population of patients. Identification of drop-out causes].
OBJECTIVE
To determine drop-out causes and EFV efficacy in ARVT.


METHODS
We examined a case-study of 106 patients (74% males, 26% females) followed for up to 23 months. 14% of the patients were naive for ARVT, 21% had already been treated with other drugs (non effective therapy), 28% were administered EFV as a supporting drug, 37% were administered EFV as a replacement drug (side-effects). The parameters used to assess efficacy are: CD4+ lymphocyte count and HIV viral load. The statistical tests used are: Student t, Fischer F, Kruskal Wallis H.


RESULTS
33 (31.1%) patients are D.O. because of: non efficacy (11%), rash (5%), psychological disorders (8%), impotence (1%), psychosis (2%), acute hepatitis (1%), abdominal pain (2%), self-suspended ARVT (2%). After the EFV introduction, in few months it has been observed a sudden fall of the viral load while the CD4+ course increases up to the 18 month of follow up, and later on it has been observed a small decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
This study proves the efficacy of EFV in ARVT. The D.O. patients because of side-effects are only a small number.
Sabbatani
Sergio
S
Unita Operativa di Malattie Infettive, Ospedale Maggiore di Bologna; Istituto di Scienze Statistiche, Universita di Bologna, Italy.
Fulgaro
Ciro
C
Rosticelli
Elena
E
D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D010078:Oxazines; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; C098320:efavirenz
Valutazione dell'efficacia di efavirenz in una casistica mista. Rilievo delle cause di drop-out.