title: First-line efavirenz versus lopinavir-ritonavir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy for naive patients.
abstract: Ninety-seven consecutive patients started anti-HIV therapy based on efavirenz (46) or lopinavir-ritonavir (51) in an observational study. Despite the significantly more compromised immunological-clinical baseline conditions of patients starting lopinavir-ritonavir, a mean clinical-laboratory follow-up of 17 months showed a comparable laboratory response and therapy interruption or change rate, although the toxicity profile of the two compounds proved significantly different. Randomized studies comparing these two recommended first-line treatments are warranted, particularly from a pharmacoeconomic viewpoint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Bologna 'Alma Mater Studiorum', S. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calza
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiodo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D061466:Lopinavir; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D010078:Oxazines; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D061466:Lopinavir; C098320:efavirenz; D019438:Ritonavir