Nucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase as a basis for the first line anti-retroviral therapy of HIV infection

Abstract

Aim. Comparative assessment of safety and effectiveness of various medications used in the first line anti-retroviral therapy (ART) of HIV. Material and methods. Patients with stage IV HIV infection were treated using one of the ART modalities for 48 weeks. 38 patients of group 1 were given fosfazid (Farma K.B, Russia) at a dose of 0.4 twice daily and 41 patients of group 2received abacavir. Both drugs were used in combination with lamivudine and efavirinez at standard doses. The results were evaluated within 0-4-12-24-36 and 48 weeks after ART based on the absence of myelo- and hepatotoxic manifestations, immunological, virological and clinical effectiveness. Results. The safety of ART is evidenced by the absence of myelo- and hepatotoxic symptoms. Fosfazid caused a significant (p<0.05) increase of hemoglobinlevel starting from week 4 up to week 48. No such increase was documented after abacavir therapy. An increaseinthe number of CD4 lymphocyte by 100 cells/mcl suggested positive effect of the treatment on the immune status of all HIV-infected patients. ART inhibited HIV replication in 95% and 88% of the patients in groups 1 and 2 respectively which suggests its high efficiency.