Tolerance of a short course of nevirapine, associated with 2 nucleoside analogues, in postexposure prophylaxis of HIV.

A combination of 2 nucleoside analogues and 1 protease inhibitor is usually recommended in postexposure prophylaxis. Because of the complex treatment schedule and frequent adverse effects, however, this regimen is often not completed. Therefore, since January 2000, we have used nevirapine (NVP), 200 mg/d, for only 4 days in combination with 2 nucleoside analogues for 1 month to improve adherence and completion rates.

[Structured therapeutic interruption in patients infected with HIV-1 experiencing a block in their antiretroviral treatment: preliminary results].

Structured therapeutic interruption (STI) has been offered to HIV-1 infected patients with virological failure (viral load > 1500 copies/mL) of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) (three or four drugs for at least one year). CD4 lymphocyte count, HIV-1 viral load, clinical status, were assessed every month during STI and after ART reintroduction. Genotype analysis by plasma virus sequencing was done before and after treatment interruption.

Efavirenz as a substitute for protease inhibitors in HIV-1-infected patients with undetectable plasma viral load on HAART: a median follow-up of 64 weeks.

We investigated, in a prospective cohort follow-up study, whether substituting efavirenz (EFV) for protease inhibitors (PIs) could be safe in HIV-infected patients with optimal viral suppression achieved on PI-containing regimens. In patients with undetectable plasma viral load (pVL) <50 copies/ml who were naive to therapy with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), PIs were replaced by EFV whereas associated nucleoside analogs (NAs) were retained. 62 patients were enrolled.

[Emergence of resistant hepatitis B virus strains during long-term lamivudine therapy in human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients].

Seven patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBsAg and HBeAg carriers, quantifiable HBV DNA with the bDNA technic) and human immunodeficiency virus received a triple antiretroviral combination therapy, including lamivudine (150 mg twice a day). Hepatitis B viral load rapidly became undetectable in 6/7 patients. It remained below the level of detection in 2 subjects, after 20 and 22 months of treatment, with one of them achieving HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion.

Increasing the number of hepatitis B vaccine injections augments anti-HBs response rate in HIV-infected patients. Effects on HIV-1 viral load.

Preventing hepatitis B by vaccination is essential in HIV-infected patients (higher progression rate of HBV infection to chronicity, lower rate of serum HBe Ag loss). However, it has been shown a decreased anti-HBs response in these individuals after a standard vaccination (3 doses of 20 micrograms). Thus, we tested the hypothesis that doubling the number of hepatitis B vaccine injections might increase anti-HBs response rate.