Triple therapy safety

NEW YORK, July 18 (Praxis Press) Multidrug antiretroviral therapy has decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the long-term effects and safety of this treatment are unknown. Gulick and colleagues studied the durability and toxicity associated with combined indinavir, zidovudine and lamivudine therapy in HIV-infected patients (see paper). Almost 65% of patients continued therapy for three years. Serum viral loads remained suppressed and CD4 counts remained elevated relative to baseline values. The main adverse effect was nephrolithiasis. Multidrug antiretroviral therapy can achieve prolonged suppression of HIV viremia.