title: Raltegravir: a review of its pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and clinical studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Raltegravir is the first HIV-integrase inhibitor licensed by the FDA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed search was conducted for all published reports up to 1 May 2010 related to raltegravir pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, drug-drug interactions and clinical studies in HIV-infected patients. Also included in this review are the updated European and US Prescriber's Information (European Medicines Agency and the FDA) and abstracts from recent international scientific meetings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After reading the review, a thorough insight in raltegravir pharmacokinetics and pharmacology will be obtained, as well as an up-to-date overview of all published drug-drug interaction studies. Furthermore, one should be able to make an evidence-based opinion on the drug's clinical efficacy and tolerability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Raltegravir is a welcome addition to the antiretroviral drug armamentarium due to its good tolerability, low potential for drug-drug interactions and good clinical efficacy in both treatment-naive and -experienced patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, 864 Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands. D.Burger@akf.umcn.nl
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004347:Drug Interactions; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068898:Raltegravir Potassium
chemical_list: D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D000068898:Raltegravir Potassium