Can a Switch to Lopinavir Actually Boost Immune Responses?

The strategy showed promise in a small study of patients who had blunted immune recovery despite virologic suppression, but the comparison regimens were somewhat outdated.

Some HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) maintain virologic suppression without achieving CD4-cell recovery. Attempts to boost immunologic response in such patients have generally been unsuccessful, and no consensus approach to the problem has emerged. Now, investigators report positive results in a small, industry-supported pilot study.

Twenty patients with insufficient CD4-cell regeneration on ART were randomized to either continue their current regimens or switch to lopinavir/ritonavir without changing their nucleoside backbones. Three of the patients had been taking an unboosted protease inhibitor (PI), and three had been receiving a triple-nucleoside combination, indicating the age of the study; 13 patients had been ta…

Reviewing Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Can a Switch to Lopinavir Actually Boost Immune Responses?

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Reviewing Author