title: Fixed dose combination abacavir/lamivudine in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
abstract: The fixed dose combination of abacavir with lamivudine represents a new treatment option for patients infected with HIV. Fixed dose combination abacavir/lamivudine has the convenience of one pill and once-daily dosing. It achieves comparable suppression of plasma HIV RNA with the pill's individual components dosed twice daily and with thymidine analogs combined with lamivudine. The combination is well tolerated, with the potential advantages of less lipoatrophy and fewer metabolic perturbations. However, the abacavir component may cause hypersensitivity reactions, which are reported in up to 8% of patients, and are potentially life threatening. Fixed dose combination abacavir/lamivudine should be considered as a viable treatment option for HIV-infected patients, particularly for those who have otherwise limited nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor choices.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. ander097@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Albert M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000099227:Abacavir
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019259:Lamivudine; D000099227:Abacavir; C492871:abacavir, lamivudine drug combination