The effect of high-dose saquinavir on viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV-infected patients

Article Abstract:

High-dose saquinavir appears to be more effective than low-dose saquinavir without increasing side effects. Saquinavir belongs to a new class of anti-HIV drugs that works by inhibiting HIV protease, an enzyme that cleaves giant HIV proteins into functional units. Researchers randomly assigned 40 HIV-infected patients with T-cell counts between 200 and 500 to 24 weeks of either 3600 milligrams or 1200 milligrams of saquinavir daily. Average CD4 cell counts peaked and declined, but still exceeded baseline at 24 weeks. Average plasma HIV RNA level declined and then rose, but still had not reached baseline by 24 weeks as did viral titers in white blood cells and blood levels of p24 antigen. The higher dosage produced better results on all measures. Three patients in the high-dose and one in the low-dose group had to periodically stop taking the drug due to serious adverse reactions. Over half in both groups experienced mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms.

Measurement, CD4 lymphocytes

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HIV-1 Genotypic Resistance Patterns Predict Response to Saquinavir-Ritonavir Therapy in Patients in Whom Previous Protease Inhibitor Therapy Had Failed

Article Abstract:

HIV patients who are infected with a strain of HIV that is resistant to protease inhibitors will probably not benefit from these drugs. In a study of 54 HIV-infected patients whose infection was not suppressed by protease inhibitors, previous use of AIDS drugs including protease inhibitors was the most common predictor of drug failure. Gene mutations causing the virus to be resistant to protease inhibitors also predicted drug failure.

Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance

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Effect of therapeutic immunization with recombinant gp160 HIV-1 vaccine on HIV-1 proviral DNA and plasma RNA: Relationship to cellular immune responses

Article Abstract:

The recombinant gp160 HIV vaccine elicits an enhanced cytotoxic T-cell response in HIV patients, but the therapeutic vaccine does not reduce viral load. Vaccination of patients with HIV infection has been proposed to improve immune responses to the virus.

United States, Statistical Data Included, Glycoproteins, AIDS vaccines

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