title: Considerations in selecting protease inhibitor therapy.
abstract: Over the past 10 years, highly active antiretroviral therapy that included a protease inhibitor has played a significant role in reducing morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected individuals. The early protease inhibitors were associated, however, with some significant limitations that posed major obstacles to their use--limited potency, difficult side effects, high regimen complexity and potential for cross-resistance. Important advances in the protease inhibitor class, including ritonavir boosting and the approval of two new protease inhibitors with the potential for once daily dosing, have led to simpler, better-tolerated protease-inhibitor therapy with the potential for improved efficacy, less toxicity and a reduced risk of the development of HIV resistance. Protease inhibitor characteristics and patient preferences should be considered in selecting the protease inhibitor that maximizes the opportunity for long-term efficacy and tolerability of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. brianboylemd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Elion
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.forename: Calvin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004356:Drug Storage; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors