An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
January 29th, 2009
Too Many Options: What Actually Happened
We recently published a case in AIDS Clinical Care entitled “Too Many Options”, describing a patient with longstanding HIV infection, virologic failure, and resistance to NRTIs, NNRTIs, and PIs.
Fortunately, resistance and tropism testing gave him several options for a new drug regimen — including darunavir, etravirine, maraviroc, enfuvirtide, and — if one believes phenotypic NRTI susceptibility with multiple TAMs — several NRTIs.
And what did our three experts suggest? Three different regimens:
- Sharon Walmsley: darunavir/r, maraviroc, and etravirine (three drugs — not counting ritonavir)
- Tim Wilkin: darunavir/r, raltegravir, maraviroc, and tenofovir/FTC (five drugs)
- Graeme Moyle: darunavir/r, raltegravir, and maraviroc (three drugs, but different from Sharon’s selection)
Now these are smart, highly-experienced clinicians, physicians who are active in clinical research, know the literature extremely well, and actually see patients. (Funny how that last part is sometimes left out.) Each of them provided sound reasons for their (varying) choices.
And what did we do with this patient? (Or one very much like him … obviously some details changed as per HIPAA mandate.)
We offered him the chance to enroll in the clinical study ACTG 5241 (mentioned by Tim), which takes patients like this, gives them an optimal regimen — then randomizes them to receive or not to receive NRTIs.
(I don’t think it will ruin the study to mention that the “flip of the coin” gave him the “No Nukes” option.)
I sure hope we learn something from this study. While we know that regimens should contain “two (preferably three)” active agents, beyond that there’s plenty of uncertainty out there.
2 Responses to “Too Many Options: What Actually Happened”
Paul E. Sax, MD
Associate Editor
NEJM Clinician
Biography | Disclosures & Summaries
Learn more about HIV and ID Observations.
FROM NEJM — Recent Infectious Disease Articles- Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship, 2026 June 25, 2026On May 2, hantavirus infection was diagnosed in a patient who had been on a cruise ship. Subsequent evaluation revealed multiple cases of Andes hantavirus infection on the ship. To date, three associated deaths have occurred.
- Phase 3 Results of Bepirovirsen Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection June 25, 2026In two phase 3 trials, 19% of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection had a functional cure with the antisense oligonucleotide bepirovirsen, 24 weeks after stopping all HBV treatment; functional cure was not seen with placebo.
- Clusters of Concern — Spatial Link between Childhood Undervaccination and Measles Outbreaks in South Carolina June 25, 2026Spatial analysis in South Carolina revealed that measles infections were clustered in areas where public school vaccination rates were lower.
- Improving Global Air-Quality Indices — The WHO’s New Roadmap June 25, 2026Many countries rely on air-quality indices to inform the public and help protect people during short-term increases in air pollution. Their use has important societal and economic implications.
- A Major Step toward a Cure for Hepatitis B Infection June 25, 2026The current treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection includes nucleoside or nucleotide analogue (NA) therapy and pegylated interferon. Both of these treatments are effective in suppressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and in reducing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.1 However, these treatments do not eradicate HBV,...
- Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship, 2026 June 25, 2026
Fortunately, we can choose from 5 active drugs outside of the NRTI class: boosted darunavir (only 2 primary mutations, 33f, 84v), maraviroc, raltegravir, and etravirine. While Fuzeon would also be effective, I would not use an injectable since we have more convenient oral options. This seems like an ideal situation for maraviroc since the virus is CCR5 tropic. I would add two other agents–boosted darunavir and etravirine, saving raltegravir as a back up in case of drug side effect, like etravirine rash.
What I’ve done with similar patients in my practice was to put them on:
1. etravirine
2. maraviroc
3. raltegravir
This adds up to 5 pills twice a day. The patient’s virus(es) has not been exposed to any of these drugs and you do not need to use a PI/r. This has worked great for my patients!