title: Short-course induction with boosted saquinavir monotherapy for naive patients with late-stage infection.
abstract: This study assessed the efficacy of short-course induction treatment with saquinavir/ritonavir as boosted protease inhibitor monotherapy in antiretroviral-naive patients, before switching to conventional highly active antiretroviral therapy. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled, with baseline CD4 cell counts of 26 cells/microl and HIV RNA 5.5 log10 copies/ml. There was a median 2.5 log10 reduction in HIV RNA and 115 cell increase in CD4 cell counts after 4-8 weeks of saquinavir/ritonavir monotherapy. This treatment strategy should be evaluated further.
authors.affiliation: Brenthurst Clinic, Parktown, Johannesbourg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019258:Saquinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019258:Saquinavir; D019438:Ritonavir