Suppressive valacyclovir therapy: impact on the population spread of HSV-2 infection.

Objectives: Recent trial results demonstrate that the transmission probability of HSV-2 in monogamous couples is nearly halved by the use of valacyclovir as suppressive therapy.

Goal: The goal of this study is to understand the potential impact of suppressive valacyclovir therapy on the transmission of HSV-2 within a population.

Study Design: A mathematical model of HSV-2 epidemiology was developed which included suppressive therapy with the efficacy observed in the clinical trial.

Understanding patient preferences for HIV medications using adaptive conjoint analysis: feasibility assessment.

Objective: Choosing among HIV medications involve making trade-offs among various efficacy, convenience, resistance, and side-effect attributes. This study tested the feasibility of using adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA) to assess preferences (utilities) for HIV medication attributes.

Methods: HIV individuals were recruited through newspaper advertisements.

Predictors of adherence and virologic outcome in HIV-infected patients treated with abacavir- or indinavir-based triple combination HAART also containing lamivudine/zidovudine.

Objectives: To compare dosing convenience and adherence with abacavir (ABC) 300 mg plus a fixed-dose lamivudine 150 mg/zidovudine 300 mg combination tablet (COM) twice daily versus indinavir (IDV) plus COM twice daily in treatment-naïve, HIV-1-infected adults; and to evaluate the association among difficulty taking antiretroviral regimens, adherence, and virologic efficacy.

Methods: An open-label, randomized, multicenter, international study compared the COM/ABC and IDV/COM regimens with respect to self-reported adherence and regimen convenience over 48 weeks. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) was done on a patient sub-sample from both groups to evaluate predictors of adherence and virologic response at last time-point on randomized therapy (LTORT).

Triple nucleoside treatment with abacavir plus the lamivudine/zidovudine combination tablet (COM) compared to indinavir/COM in antiretroviral therapy-naïve adults: results of a 48-week open-label, equivalence trial (CNA3014).

Objective: An equivalence (non-inferiority) trial comparing antiviral response, tolerability, and adherence with a triple nucleoside regimen containing abacavir 300 mg (ABC) plus a lamivudine 150-mg/zidovudine 300-mg combination tablet (COM) twice daily vs. a regimen containing the protease inhibitor indinavir (IDV) 800 mg three times daily plus COM twice daily (IDV/COM) in antiretroviral-naïve, HIV-infected patients.

Methods: Adult patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels > or = 5000 copies/mL and CD4+ cell counts > or = 100 cells/mm(3) were randomized to receive open-label ABC/COM (n = 169) or IDV/COM (n = 173) for 48 weeks.