title: Development of hepatotoxicity in HIV patients switching at least one protease inhibitor.
abstract: In order to evaluate the occurrence of hepatotoxicity in patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) who switch protease inhibitor (PI), and the role of viral hepatitis in its development, we performed a retrospective study on 182 HIV patients treated with ART for 24 months. The presence of hepatitis viruses and alanine transaminase levels were evaluated. Hepatotoxicity developed in a low number of subjects without co-infection, but was significantly higher in co-infected patients (14/51 versus 62/131, P = 0.01). Ritonavir was associated with higher rates of severe hepatotoxicity in the co-infected group. Patients presenting any problems related to ART, including the development of hepatotoxicity, continued therapy by switching PI. The occurrence of hepatotoxicity with second/third choice PIs, including ritonavir, remained stable. Our results suggest that switching PI does not increase the occurrence of drug-related liver toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Sant'Andrea Hospital, II Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. professoraceti@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aceti
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquazzi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zechini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Bac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase