Initial antiretroviral regimens

In general three drugs are better than two are better than one

Papers p 757

In this issue Rachel Jordan and colleagues have provided a meta-analysis of published controlled clinical trials, which provide significant information relevant to the initial treatment of established HIV infection in adults and adolescents (p 757).1 Their analyses are based on a large number of well conducted clinical trials. The data largely confirm earlier observations, often from relatively small studies, which have shown that dual nucleoside antiretroviral regimens are significantly more effective than single nucleoside therapy, and that three drug antiretroviral regimens are significantly better than two drug regimens for initial therapy of HIV infection.

The conclusions of the meta-analysis are entirely consistent with current consensus recommendations that initial therapy for established HIV infection in adults and adolescents should include a combination of three potent antiretroviral …