title: Nevirapine versus efavirenz in 742 patients: no link of liver toxicity with female sex, and a baseline CD4 cell count greater than 250 cells/microl.
abstract: Recent studies have reported increased nevirapine hepatotoxicity in female patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts greater than 250 cells/microl (especially pregnant women). However, our open-label comparison of 742 patients treated with either nevirapine or efavirenz-based HAART as naive patients, experienced subjects, or patients on salvage therapy, found no increased hepatotoxicity in nevirapine-treated subjects, in particular with regard to both sex (females versus males) and T-cell-mediated immunodeficiency (CD4 cell counts above versus below 250 cells/microl).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calza
mesh_terms: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D019829:Nevirapine; C098320:efavirenz