Pharmacokinetic enhancement of protease inhibitors

Protease inhibitor (PI)-enhanced regimens are becoming a standard of care in therapy for HIV infection. Many important questions remain regarding the optimal use of this treatment strategy. Multiple physiologic and pathologic factors influence the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of PIs. Specifically, alterations in drug metabolism associated with inhibition or stimulation of the 3A4 isozyme of the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system, activity of the P-glycoprotein intracellular transport system, and degree of plasma protein binding are all recognized as having important roles in influencing overall plasma PI concentrations and, ultimately, efficacy. Available pharmacokinetic data should include interpatient variation in plasma PI concentrations in addition to mean or median results. Viral inhibitory concentrations that have been corrected for the effect of protein binding should also be standardized. Studies to establish the concentration-response relationship for PIs may also prove beneficial in determining optimal plasma PI concentrations. Currently, therapeutic drug monitoring is not routinely recommended because of a lack of convincing clinical data as well as of a standard approach to collection and interpretation of drug concentrations. Large prospective studies are needed to further advance the usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring.