Plasma samples were obtained from 189 patients receiving nevirapine(Drug information on nevirapine) 200 mg twice daily. Plasma nevirapine concentrations were measured with reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Patients were divided into two groups based on plasma nevirapine concentrations of either ≤ 3 mg/L or >3 mg/L. Multivariate analysis determined the association between steady-state nevirapine concentrations and plasma HIV-1 RNA.
Thirteen patients had low plasma concentrations of nevirapine, and 176 patients had concentrations >3 mg/L. In total, 22 (12%) patients had virological failure, and eight patients (4%) discontinued nevirapine due to adverse effects. There was an increased risk of failure in patients with nevirapine plasma concentrations ≤ 3 mg/L (relative risk=5.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-13.7). Eight percent of the patients experienced rashes and liver enzyme elevations. The researchers concluded, "Low nevirapine drug concentrations are predictive of virological failure."
Reference: deVries-Sluijs TE, Dieleman JP, Arts D et al. (2003), Low nevirapine plasma concentrations predict virological failure in an unselected HIV-1-infected population. Clin Pharmacokinet 42(6):599-605.
Abstinence From Smoking Eight Years After Participation in Randomised Controlled Trial of Nicotine(Drug information on nicotine) Patch
Researchers in the United Kingdom reported the results of a study investigating abstinence from smoking in an eight-year follow-up of participants in a randomized controlled trial of the nicotine patch.
Eight-hundred forty participants completed a questionnaire providing demographic details and information about smoking. The eight-year abstinence rate was 5%, and the relapse rate was 46%.
Reference: Yudkin P, Hey K, Roberts S et al. (2003), Abstinence from smoking eight years after participation in randomised controlled trial of nicotine patch. BMJ 327(7405):28-29.
Effects of Blood Pressure Lowering With Perindopril(Drug information on perindopril) and Indapamide(Drug information on indapamide) Therapy on Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Patients With Cerebrovascular Disease
