[The role of a novel antiretroviral class (fusion inhibitors) in the treatment of advanced HIV infection. Preliminary experience with enfuvirtide].
A preliminary open-label study on the administration of the novel, parenteral HIV fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide as a part of a salvage antiretroviral treatment in a cohort of hardly pretreated and multiresistant patients with advanced HIV disease followed until 30 consecutive months of therapy is presented, and discussed on the ground of available experiences, and an update of literature evidences in this field. Expectations and concerns on the use of this novel anti-HIV compound (belonging to an innovative pharmacological class) in daily practice are debated, since no specific recommendations have been produced until now, and enfuvirtide administration appears significantly more effective when made in conjunction with at least one or two other active antiretroviral agents. The management of the very frequent site injection reactions represents an adjunctive problem in the treatment of these multi-problematic patients.
Manfredi
Roberto
R
Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica Specialistica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, Azienda Ospedaliera di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna. manfredi@med.unibo.it
Calza
Leonardo
L
Chiodo
Francesco
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077560:Enfuvirtide; D005260:Female; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000077560:Enfuvirtide