Antiretrovirals, part 1: overview, history, and focus on protease inhibitors.
This column is the first in a series on HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drugs. This first review summarizes the history of HIV/AIDS and the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and highlights why it is important for non-HIV specialists to know about these drugs. There are four broad classes of HIV medications used in varying combinations in HAART: the protease inhibitors, nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and cell membrane fusion inhibitors. This paper reviews the mechanism of action, side effects, toxicities, and drug interactions of the protease inhibitors.
Wynn
Gary H
GH
Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Zapor
Michael J
MJ
Smith
Benjamin H
BH
Wortmann
Glenn
G
Oesterheld
Jessica R
JR
Armstrong
Scott C
SC
Cozza
Kelly L
KL
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000378:metabolism; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000266:history; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014773:Virology / Q000266:history
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D002220:Carbamazepine