Once-a-day HAART: dream or reality?
A constant and nearly absolute adherence is required to ensure a successful long-lasting outcome of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Pill burden and regimen complexity are important contributors to adherence problems. The most significant treatment-related strategy to improve adherence may be the reduction in the number and frequency of pills to be taken every day. If one accepts the concept that once-daily therapy is likely to benefit patients, then the issue turns to whether we have adequate drugs to implement once-daily HAART. There is quite a difference between using a once-a-day drug within an HAART regimen and designing an HAART regimen that is dosed once daily. To date, studies that explore the feasibility of once-a-day HAART regimens are still few, mostly exploratory, not controlled, and performed in a limited number of patients. However, most data are consistent one with the other, and evidence on the utility of such regimens is growing. Once-daily therapy cannot be the answer to all the questions that complex and life-long therapies give rise to, but it could be a further choice that can meet the needs of many patients. The range of once-daily options is expanding rapidly, and the patients' request for easier therapies that are respectful of their lifestyle could be fulfilled.
Maggiolo
Franco
F
Division of Infectious Diseases, Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy. franco31556@hotmail.com
Ripamonti
Diego
D
Suter
Fredy
F
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents