Nelfinavir+M8 plasma levels determined with an ELISA test in HIV infected patients with or without HCV and/or HBV coinfection: the VIRAKINETICS II study

Curr HIV Res. 2009 May;7(3):293-301. doi: 10.2174/157016209788347967.

Abstract

Virakinetics II was designed as an observational, multicenter cohort study conducted in HIV-positive patients treated with NFV-based combinations. Trough (pre-dose) concentrations of NFV+M8 in plasma were determined using a novel ELISA test (NFV TDM-ELISA) and analyzed using clinical and laboratory parameters. Drug levels were sorted as below, within or above a given interval (<0.8 microg/mL, 0.8-3.5 microg/mL and >3.5 microg/mL, respectively). Longitudinal analysis was performed in a subset of patients who underwent two or more determinations. Ninety patients on NFV-containing HAART were enrolled and 43 were coinfected with HCV and/or HBV. Among coinfected patients, 10 subjects had a clinical or histological diagnosis of cirrhosis. Compared to the HIV-monoinfected, the coinfected patients were significantly older, more treatment-experienced, with higher frequency of lipodystrophy and altered liver function test values (all p values: <0.05). Coinfected patients were also more likely to be on a reduced dose of NFV than monoinfected (p=0.03). No significant difference was observed between the two groups with regard to NFV+M8 trough values and concentration range distribution. Median NFV+M8 C(trough) concentrations were higher in coinfected patients, but without reaching statistical significance (p=0.2). This new ELISA test proved to be a rapid, convenient and reliable tool for assessing NFV+M8 plasma levels in HIV-positive patients. It could be suitable for use within the framework of routine clinical practice even in peripheral centers without specialized laboratories.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nelfinavir / analogs & derivatives*
  • Nelfinavir / pharmacokinetics
  • Nelfinavir / therapeutic use
  • Plasma / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • M8-nelfinavir
  • Nelfinavir