Safety and Efficacy in HIV-1-Infected Patients Treated with Ritonavir-Boosted Saquinavir Mesylate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir 1000/100 mg twice daily administered as a 500 mg film-coated tablet in HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: In this open-label, observational, 24-week survey conducted in 8 European countries, eligible HIV-infected participants had been prescribed saquinavir/ritonavir in combination with other nonprotease inhibitor (PI) antiretroviral agents as part of their HIV treatment regimen. The safety (grade 3 or 4 adverse events [AEs]), tolerability (by an investigator-reported subjective rating system), and efficacy (the percentage of participants with <50 and <400 copies/mL HIV RNA and change from baseline in mean CD4+ cell count) were analyzed for the overall study population and 7 subpopulations. RESULTS: The enrolled population included 2122 participants with 1908 completing the study; 44 (2.1%) withdrew prematurely because of AEs, including 7 nontreatment-related deaths. There were 33 grade 3 or 4 AEs in 29 (1.4%) participants; 7 AEs in 7 (0.3%) participants were considered treatment-related. Tolerability was reported to be "very good" or "good" in 42% and 25% of participants, respectively. From baseline to week 24, the proportion of participants with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL increased from 31.2% to 47.6% and the proportion with <400 copies/mL increased from 42.5% to 61.4%; the mean CD4+ cell count increased by 75 cells/microL. In the subpopulation analysis, the greatest efficacy benefits occurred in participants who were treatment-naïve and in those not having received prior PI therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the saquinavir 500 mg film-coated tablet resulted in few grade 3 or 4 AEs and was well tolerated and effective in a broad population of patients.

[Efficacy and safety of a reduced-dose of stavudine in HIV-infected patients under immunological and virological stable conditions]. / Impacto de la reducción de dosis de estavudina en su perfil de eficacia/seguridad en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana inmunológica y virológicamente estables.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stavudine (d4T) has shown a favourable short and long-term tolerability profile. Nevertheless, its usage is currently decreasing due to some safety concerns. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of d4T low-dose-based regimens. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a multicenter and retrospective review chart of patients receiving standard doses of d4T for > or = 6 months (weight > 60 kg: 40 mg/12 h; weight < 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h) and having undetectable viral load for at least 3 months before the d4T dose reduction (weight > 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h; weight < 60 kg: 20 mg/12 h). Immunological and viral parametres, lipid profile and side effects were determined. RESULTS: A total of 982 patients were included. The main reason for reducing the dose was prevention of toxicity (76%). After 6 months of follow-up, 97% and 84% patients had less than 400 and 50 cp/ml, respectively, and the CD4 cell count increased by 38 cel/ml. Lipids, lipodystrophy and peripheral polineuropathy improved but there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: A d4T dose reduction in an immuno-virologically stable population does not affect treatment efficacy. Longer follow-ups are required to confirm improvements in the safety profile.

Impacto de la reducción de dosis de estavudina en su perfil de eficacia/seguridad en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana inmunológica y virológicamente estables / Efficacy and safety of a reduced-dose of stavudine in HIV-infected patients under immunological and virological stable conditions

Fundamento y objetivo: La estavudina (d4T) ha demostrado ser un fármaco bien tolerado y eficaz a corto y largo plazo. Sin embargo, su uso se ha asociado a una serie de toxicidades que han condicionado su prescripción actual. Se evalúa la eficacia inmunovirológica y seguridad de pautas antirretrovirales con d4T a dosis reducidas. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo y multicéntrico, en el que se incluyó a pacientes tratados con d4T a dosis habituales (peso > 60 kg: 40 mg/12 h; peso < 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h) durante 6 meses o más y con carga vírica indetectable durante al menos 3 meses, a los que se redujo la dosis del fármaco (peso > 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h; peso < 60 kg: 20 mg/12 h). Se excluyó a pacientes en tratamiento con más de 3 fármacos y otros cambios de tratamiento. Se determinaron parámetros inmunológicos, virológicos, perfil lipídico e incidencia de efectos secundarios. Resultados: Se incluyó a 982 pacientes. La prevención de la toxicidad fue el principal motivo de reducción de la dosis (76%). A los 6 meses el 97% y el 84% de los pacientes tenían menos de 400 y de 50 copias/ml, respectivamente y hubo un incremento significativo de 38 linfocitos/ml. No se observaron cambios significativos en los parámetros lipídicos en la lipodistrofia ni en la neuropatía periférica el período de 6 meses de seguimiento. Conclusiones: La reducción de dosis de d4T no compromete su eficacia en una población inmunovirológicamente estable. Para corroborar si esta estrategia conlleva una menor toxicidad se necesitan estudios con seguimientos más prolongados

Background and objective: Stavudine (d4T) has shown a favourable short and long-term tolerability profile. Nevertheless, its usage is currently decreasing due to some safety concerns. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of d4T low-dose-based regimens. Patients and method: This was a multicenter and retrospective review chart of patients receiving standard doses of d4T for $ 6 months (weight > 60 kg: 40 mg/12 h; weight < 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h) and having undetectable viral load for at least 3 months before the d4T dose reduction (weight > 60 kg: 30 mg/12 h; weight < 60 kg: 20 mg/12 h). Immunological and viral parametres, lipid profile and side effects were determined. Results: A total of 982 patients were included. The main reason for reducing the dose was prevention of tocixity (76%). After 6 months of follow-up, 97% and 84% patients had less than 400 and 50 cp/ml, respectively, and the CD4 cell count increased by 38 cel/ml. Lipids, lipodystrophy and peripheral polineuropathy improved but there was no statistical significance. Conclusions: A d4T dose reduction in an immuno-virologically stable population does not affect treatment efficacy. Longer follow-ups are required to confirm improvements in the safety profile