Insights into antiretroviral treatment changes in previously naïve patients: results of a Portuguese cohort

Excerpt

Since the use of more tolerable and less toxic combined antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, most drug-naïve HIV patients achieve viral suppression and immunologic recovery, combined with less AIDS related events. Nevertheless, drug switches are still frequent both as a mean of adherence and toxicity management and as a response to virologic or immunologic failure. The aim of the study was to analyse the number, timing and cause of modifications in the first ARV regimen in order to elucidate more about adverse drug reactions in the current HIV ARV therapy guidelines, indirect signs of adherence and premature virological failure. …