title: Ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors in HIV therapy.
abstract: The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy has led to significant improvement in the care of HIV-infected patients. Originally designed as a protease inhibitor (PI), ritonavir is currently exclusively used as a pharmacokinetic enhancer of other protease inhibitors, predominantly due to ritonavir's potent inhibition of the cytochrome P450 3A4 isoenzyme. Ritonavir-boosting of PIs decrease pill burden and frequency of dosing. Boosted PIs are recommended for first-line therapy in treatment and play a key role in the management of treatment-experienced patients. Potential problems associated with PIs include metabolic abnormalities (e.g. dyslipidemia), increased cardiovascular risk, and drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of AIDS, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
mesh_terms: D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D065692:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D065692:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; C510163:CYP3A4 protein, human; D019438:Ritonavir