Is It Time To Proactively Switch Successful Antiretroviral Therapy? Carefully Check Your SWATCH
Authors: Michael Saag
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Editorials15 July 2003Is It Time To Proactively Switch Successful Antiretroviral Therapy? Carefully Check Your SWATCHMichael Saag, MDMichael Saag, MDFrom University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL 35294.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-2-200307150-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The routine use of triple-drug antiretroviral therapy in the mid-1990s heralded the beginning of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era in HIV therapeutics. With these potent regimens, viral replication in lymphatic tissue could be reduced almost completely, leading to levels of virus in plasma below assay detection limits (<50 copies/mL). This resulted in steady increases in CD4 cell counts, reductions in opportunistic infections, and a dramatic reduction in HIV-related mortality rates.Yet HAART is not always successful. Many patients have trouble tolerating some of the short-term (for example, gastrointestinal) side effects, while others develop longer-term complications, such as hyperlipidemia, ...References1. Yeni PG, Hammer SM, Carpenter CC, Cooper DA, Fischl MA, Gatell JM, . Antiretroviral treatment for adult HIV infection in 2002: updated recommendations of the International AIDS Society-USA Panel. JAMA. 2002;288:222-35. [PMID: 12095387] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in HIV-1 infected adults and adolescents. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Clinical Practices for Treatment of HIV Infection. Accessed at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/ on 16 June 2003. Google Scholar3. Report of the NIH Panel To Define Principles of Therapy of HIV Infeciton. 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Google Scholar11. Cahn P, Raffi F, Saag M, Wolff M, Pearce D, Molina JM, et al. Virologic efficacy and patterns of resistance mutations in ART-nave patients receiving combination therapy with daily (QD) emtricitabine compared to twice-daily (BID) stavudine in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial [Abstract]. Presented at 10th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Boston, Massachusetts, 10-14 February 2003. Abstract no. 606. Accessed at www.retroconference.org/Archive/Posters/Retro10/606.pdf. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL 35294.Disclosures:Consultancies: Abbott, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-LaRoche, OrthoBiotech/Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer/Agouron, Schering-Plough, Shire Pharmaceutical, TherapyEdge, Tibotec/Virco, Trimeris, Virologic; Grants received: Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-LaRoche, Ortho Biotech/Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer/Agouron, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Triangle Pharmaceuticals.Corresponding Author: Michael Saag, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, CCB Room 178, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAlternation of Antiretroviral Drug Regimens for HIV Infection Javier Martinez-Picado , Eugnia Negredo , Lidia Ruiz , Ayumi Shintani , Carmina R. Fumaz , Carlos Zala , Pere Domingo , Josep Vilar , Josep M. Llibre , Pompeyo Viciana , Kurt Hertogs , Charles Boucher , Richard T. D'Aquila , Bonaventura Clotet , and Metrics Cited byEconomic impact of antiretroviral therapy prescription decisions in the context of rapid scaling-up of access to treatment: lessons from MexicoA pathophysiological approach to antiretroviral therapy 15 July 2003Volume 139, Issue 2Page: 148-149KeywordsAntiretroviral therapyBlood plasmaDrugsHIVIntent to treat analysisProtease inhibitorsRNAToxicityViral loadViral replication ePublished: 15 July 2003 Issue Published: 15 July 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...