title: [Antiretroviral therapy of HIV infection: duration and reasons for changing the first therapeutic regimen in 518 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different combinations of antiretroviral drugs are used as initial HIV therapy but comparative studies between them are not frequent. The objectives of this study are to determine the median duration of different therapy combinations in naive patients between 1998-2000 and the main reasons for changing or stopping this first antiretroviral therapy (ARVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included a total of 518 naive patients who began antiretroviral therapy patients from 1998-2000. Using a Kaplan-Meier analysis the median duration of different combinations was determined. In addition, the main reasons for changing or stopping this first treatment were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First ARVT median duration was 427 days (IQR: 114-890). 47% of patients stopped their first therapy due to adverse effects, 6% voluntarily withdrew from it, in 9% of patients the therapy was not effective and 15% of them were lost of follow up. Only 9% of them continued with the same ARVT at the end of the study but if we add 7% of treatment simplifications we can consider 16% of first ARVT successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A median duration of 427 days, similar to other studies, is shorter than we would prefer for HIV, a condition that requires continuous treatment. On the other hand, the study corroborates that secondary effects are the principal problem associated with ARVT.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. gratacos.santanach@gmail.com
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gratacòs
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuset
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codina
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallolas
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miserachs
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Martín-Conde
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Cacho
authors.forename: Elisa de
authors.initials: Ed
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents