title: Relapse of intravenous drug use triggered by enfuvirtide, a parenteral antiretroviral medication.
abstract: Fuzeon® (enfuvirtide; Hoffmann-LaRoche, Nutley, NJ) is a parenteral medication prescribed to antiretroviral-experienced HIV patients. Clinicians are frequently concerned when prescribing enfuvirtide to former drug addicts because of the risk of triggering relapse, however, no previous report has described this adverse event. We describe two HIV-infected patients, previously abstinent from injection drug use, who experienced relapse or near-relapse situations after starting treatment with enfuvirtide. Along with the concerns related to adherence and to injection site reactions, clinicians who prescribe enfuvirtide should consider and discuss the risk of triggering relapse among former or recovering drug addicts.
authors.forename: Vivian Iida
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Avelino-Silva
authors.forename: Ho Yeh
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Christina Terra Gallafrio
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Novaes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000077560:Enfuvirtide; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D023581:HIV Fusion Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000077560:Enfuvirtide