Clinical Strategies for Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy

CME Program Director: John P. Phair, MD

Faculty:

Joel E. Gallant, MD, MPH

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the rationale for earlier vs later initiation of antiretroviral therapy
• Review current treatment options for use in first-line antiretroviral regimens
• Describe approaches to managing treatment intolerance and initial failure

Topics covered include:

• Introduction
• When to Start
• What to Start With
• Ritonavir-Boosted PIs Plus 2 NRTIs
• NNRTI Plus 2 NRTIs
• Unboosted PIs Plus 2 NRTIs
• NRTI-Based Regimens
• PI/NNRTI Combinations
• The Choice of NRTIs in the Initial Regimen
• Once-Daily Regimens
• Patients With High Baseline Viral Loads and/or Low CD4+ Cell Counts
• Special Populations
• Summary—Implications for Clinical Practice