title: Drug safety evaluation profile of  stavudine plus lamivudine  for HIV-1/AIDS infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lamivudine (3TC) + stavudine (d4T) combination is still widely used as part of first-line therapy for HIV-1-infected patients in low-resource countries. This review is intended to assess the benefits and risks in terms of safety of d4T + 3TC-based combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The most relevant papers related to the safety of d4T + 3TC-based ART were selected and summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In industrialized countries, the 3TC + d4T combination is not recommended for initial therapy because of long-term metabolic toxicities associated with d4T. In developing countries, it may have a role in the treatment of HIV-infected patients if there is no other chance for starting antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Univeristat Autònoma de Barcelona, Av. Sant Antoni Mª Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Gracia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.forename: Maria del Mar
authors.initials: Mdel M
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domingo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061214:Patient Safety; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018119:Stavudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D018119:Stavudine