Safety and antiviral activity of lopinavir/ritonavir-based therapy in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.
Protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy has been shown to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. However, many of the available agents in this class suffer shortcomings, including poor tolerability, difficult dosing regimens, and variable drug concentrations which may lead to generation of viral resistance. Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) has been designed specifically to address some of these shortcomings. Excellent therapeutic efficacy has been documented for lopinavir/ritonavir in multiple clinical trials in both antiretroviral-naive and -experienced patients. Development of resistance is a rare event in persons initiating therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir as their first protease inhibitor. The main side effects associated with lopinavir/ritonavir are gastrointestinal disturbances and elevations of serum lipids. Current antiretroviral therapy guidelines list lopinavir/ritonavir as the consensus first-line protease inhibitor recommended in the initial therapeutic regimen in persons infected with HIV-1.
Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Susan S
SS
Kaplan
Charles B
CB
Hicks
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D061466:Lopinavir; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D061466:Lopinavir; D019438:Ritonavir