Triple nucleoside combination zidovudine/lamivudine/abacavir versus zidovudine/lamivudine/nelfinavir as first-line therapy in HIV-1-infected adults: a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and safety of a triple nucleoside combination to a protease inhibitor-containing triple regimen as first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-1-infected patients.


METHODS
Open-label study in HIV-1-infected ART-naive adults, randomized to receive either Combivir (lamivudine 150 mg/zidovudine 300 mg twice daily) + abacavir (300 mg twice daily), or Combivir + nelfinavir (750 mg every 8 h) for 48 weeks. Plasma HIV-1 RNA, CD4 cell count and adverse events were assessed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48.


RESULTS
195 subjects (131 men, 64 women), median age 34 years, were randomized: 98 received combivir/abacavir and 97 combivir/nelfinavir. Baseline median plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.2 log10 copies/ml [Interquartile range (IQR): 3.7-4.5.2] and 4.1 log10 copies/ml (IQR: 3.8-4.6), respectively. Baseline median CD4 cell count was 387 cells/mm3 (IQR: 194-501) and 449 cells/mm3 (IQR: 334-605), respectively. Nine patients (3 vs 6, respectively) did not start treatment or did not have any available efficacy data. At week 48, using the intent to treat analysis (switch/missing equals failure), plasma HIV-1 RNA was <50 copies/ml in 54/95 (57%) and 53/91 (58%) of subjects, respectively. Median CD4 increase was +110 and +120 cells/mm3, respectively. Possible hypersensitivity reactions to abacavir were reported in four subjects (4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The triple nucleoside combination combivir/abacavir is well tolerated as a first-line ART regimen in HIV-1-infected adults, with comparable antiviral activity to a nelfinavir-containing regimen at week 48.
Matheron
Sophie
S
Hospital Bichat Claude Bernard, Paris, France. sophie.matheron@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr
Descamps
Diane
D
Boué
François
F
Livrozet
Jean-Michel
JM
Lafeuillade
Alain
A
Aquilina
Christian
C
Troisvallets
Didier
D
Goetschel
Agnès
A
Brun-Vezinet
Françoise
F
Mamet
Jean-Philippe
JP
Thiaux
Cécile
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019888:Nelfinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000099227:Abacavir
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D019888:Nelfinavir; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D015215:Zidovudine; D000099227:Abacavir