title: Are untimed antiretroviral drug levels useful predictors of adherence behavior?
abstract: We examined cross-sectionally the relationship between untimed drug levels and adherence in 83 individuals. Abnormally low untimed antiretroviral drug levels were sensitive in identifying individuals adherent to 60% or less of medication doses over 3 - 5-week period. An abnormally low drug level was associated with a higher viral load. A single abnormally low untimed antiretroviral drug level can identify an individual with very low adherence at high risk of HIV disease progression and death.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liechty
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: P Richard
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Edwin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Charlebois
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bangsberg
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents