I had two patients who were in the original Hydroxyurea study in France. I never liked it because of the side effects. This drug has been used in leukemia, and the effect is drops in white count, and that is exactly what I saw on this patients, who (even though the dose is lower), had to stop the medication because of significant drops in wbc, and platelets.
Patients with HIV/AIDS have a problem with all types of blood components, specially leukocytes, if you give them something that will drop them, then you get in trouble. Sure, you may cure the HIV, but what are you left with(and these effects are really short term, weeks to months).
Again, regarding the effects of PIs (and just about anything else), I think you may be loosing the point. These patients are TERMINAL for all intents and purposes, we need to treat them with what we have. So it is at this time inconsequential for them (advanced AIDS) to care very much about what may happen two or three years down the line. If you do not believe me, ask someone with AIDS, or put yourself in their places for once. Stop knocking these drugs, or give us something else, another choice. Because, DR.Niman, this is all we have for now, and for a long time to come. By the way, for someone with AIDS, 1 year is LONG TERM. |
