ABSTRACT
We performed a retrospective analysis of our experience with dual nucleoside regimens to look for predictors of long term benefit. The study evaluated a cohort of 68 HIV-infected patients treated at 3 Italian hospital-based facilities. The results were evaluated using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Fourty-three males and 25 females were treated for 22 +/- 14 months. Sixty three patients (92.6%) suffered no or low-grade side-effects. Thirty-four patients (50%) reached a viral load <400 copies/ml (undetectable). Viremia remained persistently undetectable in 9 cases (13.2%). Variable relapses of viremia were seen in 13 patients (19.1%) even though their therapys were not modified. Eight patients (11.8%) showed relapsing viremias persistently around or below 10,000 copies/ml. All patients reaching undetectable viremia but one showed increasing or stable CD4+ cell counts. Factors predicting favourable response were: pre-treatment CD4+ T-cells >150/microl, pre-treatment viremia <50,000 copies/ml, pre-treatment lymphocytes >1,500/microl, and no previous exposure to NRTI. Total lymphocyte counts and CD4+ T-cells showed a significant correlation. Dual NRTI regimens may be still considered for patients unable to tolerate HAART regimens and presenting with favourable predictors of response.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/drug therapy , Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Chi-Square Distribution , Cohort Studies , Confidence Intervals , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Retrospective Studies , Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Time Factors , Viral Load/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
The analgesic effect of galactosamineglucuronoglycan sulfate (GGG) was evaluated in a series of patients with moderate to severe coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis. GGG was used at the daily dose of 800 mg, in conjunction with indomethacin, for a period of 6 months. In compliance with this controlled study the results obtained were compared with those observed in another group of patients with similar pathologies who were treated with indomethacin alone. Statistical elaboration of the values "between times" and "between treatments" showed that the combined treatment led to significantly better results; tolerance was good and compliance by the patients satisfactory.
