Simplified Maintenance Therapy for HIV Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Cahn Pedro, Montaner Julio, Junod Patrice, Patterson Patricia, Krolewiecki Alejandro, Andrade-Villanueva Jaime, Cassetti Isabel, Sierra-Madero Juan, Casiró Arnaldo David, Bortolozzi Raul, Lupo Sergio Horacio, Longo Nadia, Rampakakis Emmanouil, Ackad Nabil, Sampalis John S.
Primary Institution: Fundacion Huesped, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hypothesis
Is switching to lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy as effective and safe as continuing standard HAART in HIV patients?
Conclusion
The virologic efficacy and safety of lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy is comparable to that of a standard triple-drug therapy in HIV patients.
Supporting Evidence
- 71 patients completed treatment at day 360.
- 40 patients on LPV/r and 37 on HAART had viral loads below 200 copies/mL.
- Most common adverse events were diarrhea (19%) and headache (18%).
- 10% of patients on LPV/r required intensification with NRTIs, all regained virologic control.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether a simpler HIV treatment could work just as well as the usual complicated one. It found that the simpler treatment was just as good.
Methodology
A one-year, randomized, open-label, multi-center study comparing LPV/r monotherapy to standard HAART in virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected adults.
Potential Biases
The open-label design may introduce bias, but reflects real-life practice.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was not able to achieve the calculated sample size due to low recruitment rates.
Participant Demographics
Participants were predominantly male (84%) and Caucasian (94%), with a mean age of 39 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P=0.61
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.04–5.31
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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