title: Stavudine extended release (once-daily, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stavudine extended release (d4T XR) was a formulation which tried to solve the two main problems associated with the use of stavudine immediate release (d4T IR). These were twice daily dosing schema at a time when most formulations were long-life allowing once daily dosing; and that the use of d4T IR was associated with long-term toxicity through mitochondrial toxicity clinically expressed as peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis and above all, lipodystrophy. The link between stavudine exposure and lipodystrophy had a great negative impact on its use in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors cover the most relevant papers related to the efficacy and safety of d4T XR-based antiretroviral therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of d4T XR has only been partially successful with regard to its objectives. Improved pharmacokinetic properties allow its once daily dosing, and although it exhibits less mitochondrial toxicity it is still hampered by its development in a significant proportion of patients. This has caused its use to be almost residual in industrialised countries. As of now, d4T XR has not been made available in developing countries, despite the extended use of the immediate-release formulation. Currently, if there is no other chance of starting combination antiretroviral therapy, d4T XR could play a role in the treatment of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital de Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ma Gracia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.forename: Ma 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: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018119:Stavudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D018119:Stavudine