Study shows for the first time the major predictor of resistence to AIDS drugs
Albany Medical CenterAlbany Medical College researchers have for the first time provided data that shows that the major predictor of resistance to AIDS drugs is whether the amount of virus in a patient's body has been reduced to nondetectable limits. The analysis showed that among the patients who received just Indinavir, those who were able to reduce the amount of virus in them to less than detectable levels had "significantly lower risks of emergence of resistance" to the drug. When combination therapy was used, such as a combined treatment of Indinavir, AZT, and 3TC, patients had significantly longer times to resistance compared to monotherapy patients even after adjusting statistically for the increased antiviral effect of the additional drugs.