title: Lopinavir/Ritonavir: a review of its use in the management of HIV-1 infection.
abstract: Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®) is an orally administered coformulated ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) comprising lopinavir and low-dose ritonavir. It is indicated, in combination with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults, adolescents and children. Lopinavir/ritonavir is available as a tablet, soft-gel capsule and an oral solution for patients with difficulty swallowing. In well designed, randomized clinical trials, lopinavir/ritonavir, in combination with other antiretroviral therapies (ART), provided durable virological suppression and improved immunological outcomes in both ART-naive and -experienced adult patients with virological failure. Furthermore, lopinavir/ritonavir demonstrated a high barrier to the development of resistance in ART-naive patients. More limited data indicate that it is effective in reducing plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in paediatric patients. Lopinavir/ritonavir has served as a well established benchmark comparator for the noninferiority of other ritonavir-boosted PI regimens. Although generally well tolerated, lopinavir/ritonavir is associated with generally manageable adverse gastrointestinal side effects and hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia, which may require coadministration of lipid-lowering agents to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Lopinavir/ritonavir, in combination with other ART agents, is a well established and cost-effective treatment for both ART-naive and -experienced patients with HIV-1 infection and, with successful management of adverse events, continues to have a role as an effective component of ART regimens for the control of HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Adis, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Jamie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Croxtall
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D061466:Lopinavir; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D061466:Lopinavir; D019438:Ritonavir