[Efficacy of efavirenz in a mixed population of patients. Identification of drop-out causes]. / Valutazione dell'efficacia di efavirenz in una casistica mista. Rilievo delle cause di drop-out.

AIM: To determine drop-out causes and EFV efficacy in ARVT. MATERIALS: We examined a case-study of 106 patients (74% males, 26% females) followed for up to 23 months. 14% of the patients were naive for ARVT, 21% had already been treated with other drugs (non effective therapy), 28% were administered EFV as a supporting drug, 37% were administered EFV as a replacement drug (side-effects). The parameters used to assess efficacy are: CD4+ lymphocyte count and HIV viral load. The statistical tests used are: Student t, Fischer F, Kruskal Wallis H. RESULTS: 33 (31.1%) patients are D.O. because of: non efficacy (11%), rash (5%), psychological disorders (8%), impotence (1%), psychosis (2%), acute hepatitis (1%), abdominal pain (2%), self-suspended ARVT (2%). After the EFV introduction, in few months it has been observed a sudden fall of the viral load while the CD4+ course increases up to the 18 month of follow up, and later on it has been observed a small decrease. CONCLUSION: This study proves the efficacy of EFV in ARVT. The D.O. patients because of side-effects are only a small number.