Adherence and protease inhibitor

NEW YORK, July 18 (Praxis Press) The complexity of antiretroviral regimens may be an obstacle to adherence among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Paterson and colleagues evaluated the importance of adherence to protease inhibitor therapy among HIV-infected patients (see paper). Good adherence was associated with decreased virologic failure, fewer days of hospitalization, and fewer opportunistic infections. An adherence level of 95% was identified as a critical level for optimal outcomes. Adherence is essential to successful protease inhibitor therapy, and underlying causes of poor adherence should be identified and addressed.