Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

While it appears that protease inhibitors in combination therapies are saving lives, questions continue: (1) which combinations of protease inhibitors and other antiretroviral agents are most effective in restoring immune function, (2) how these combinations can be used most effectively, and (3) what is the best time to start using them? An evaluation is presented on the immunological value of specific drug cocktail combinations and a comparison of the best and worst drug combinations and the reasons for this assessment. It indicates that Norvir is the most effective of all four protease inhibitors in preventing opportunistic infections, lymphomas, and cancers. D4T and 3TC are the safest and most effective of the nucleosides for preventing or remitting opportunistic infections when used with protease inhibitors. Rescriptor is the most therapeutic of the two non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in increasing absorption of protease inhibitors. The best drug combination therapies are listed as follows: Norvir plus Rescriptor; Norvir plus D4T; Norvir plus 3TC; Norvir, Rescriptor, and D4T; Norvir, Rescriptor, and 3TC; Norvir, D4T, and 3TC; and Crixivan or Viracept plus Rescriptor plus either D4T or 3TC. The worst drug combination therapies are listed as follows: AZT plus ddI (used in combination with a protease inhibitor); AZT or ddI or Combivir (used in combinations with a protease inhibitor); and any two protease inhibitors used together in any person with active hepatitis or elevated liver enzymes or impaired kidney function.
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PMID:An evaluation of drug cocktail combinations for their immunological value in preventing/remitting opportunistic infections. 1136 16

Kaletra, a fixed-dose co-formulation of lopinavir/ritonavir, was the first boosted protease inhibitor developed for the treatment of HIV-infection. In September 2000, the US FDA granted Kaletra fast-track approval as data showed a higher efficacy in the treatment of HIV-infection than standard protease inhibitors of that time. Although potency was of major concern in the early years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), presently, with the perspective of HIV-infection becoming a chronic but well controllable disease, other issues begin to draw increased attention in the long-term management of HIV-infected patients. Among general health issues such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders or hepatitis co-infection, the long-term toxicity and safety of HAART is an important concern when choosing antiretroviral drugs for each individual patient. In this review, the authors report on the safety of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of HIV-infected patients, and focus on special patient groups and relevant safety issues.
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PMID:Safety of lopinavir/ritonavir for the treatment of HIV-infection. 1593 49