title: Benefits and concerns of simplification strategies in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) provide sustained viral control in most patients, but many of these regimens are restricted by complex dosing, drug-drug interactions and toxicities. Numerous strategies of simplified treatment have been explored in order to improve patient quality of life and adherence to treatment, as well as to manage drug-related toxicities while maintaining viral suppression. The first simplification strategy involved switching from protease inhibitors (PIs) to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), with an additional benefit on lipid metabolism. The development of once-daily drugs or co-formulated combinations has successfully been used to further simplify treatment. However, studies assessing triple nucleoside regimens have shown a higher frequency of viral failure in comparison with standard HAART, mainly in patients with previous sequential suboptimal treatments. Finally, NRTI-sparing approaches, consisting of NNRTI+PI combinations or monotherapies with boosted PIs, are alternatives to avoid NRTI-related mitochondrial toxicities. An accurate analysis of each patient's history will be necessary in each case to determine whether a simplification strategy is appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Lluita contra la SIDA Foundation, HIV Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol Barcelona, Spain. enegredo@flsida.org
authors.forename: Eugènia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negredo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonjoch
authors.forename: Bonaventura
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clotet
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents