All study participants were treated for at least eight weeks with antiretroviral combination therapy immediately preceding the beginning of the trial. Half the patients received the drug and half received a placebo, an inert substance with no medical benefit. All were encouraged to continue with their antiretroviral regimens. The drug was administered as a pill, taken orally once a day for 24 weeks. At the conclusion of this period, followup screening evaluations continued for another 24 weeks and participants in the adefovir group and placebo group were given the option of continuing with adefovir in their treatment regimen if their health status was appropriate.
Viral load is measured in the number of copies of viral genetic material per milliliter of blood.
During the study period, adefovir was associated in some patients with side-effects of elevated liver enzyme levels, gastrointestinal problems, and weight loss. Early indications of kidney dysfunction occurred in about 60 percent of patients who took the drug beyond 24 weeks, but the condition was reversed by stopping adefovir treatment. These complications were unanticipated, according to the researchers, and should be taken into account in any future use. All Rights Reserved. Last updated .