Kaletra Monotherapy Failure Predicted by HIV Levels in the Brain

Kaletra Monotherapy Failure Predicted by HIV Levels in the Brain

Not only was Kaletra (lopinavir plus ritonavir) monotherapy inferior to standard three-drug treatment in people with HIV, but rising HIV levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tied to treatment failure. These results, published online August 26 in AIDS, also revealed that the people most likely to experience treatment failure while on monotherapy were those whose CD4 count had ever fallen below 200.

Monotherapy with a Norvir (ritonavir)–boosted protease inhibitor (PI) has the advantages of using fewer antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in a regimen, reducing the cost of treatment and potentially sparing people certain side effects.