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viral load up again I think I need resistance test
Mar 13, 2000
4 years ago I started on Crixivan, 3TC with a viral load of 90,000 and a T cell count of 4. After a couple of months my viral load was undetectable and my T cells rebounded to the 700 range. Pretty incredible. This lasted for approximately 2 years when I began to develop resistance. My physician then switched me to Zerit, Viracept, Sustiva which was working well for about a year when I had a seizure which was attributed to the Sustiva (after multiple tests) so I was switched to Viramune. Now only 6 months later my viral load is now back to 8000 and T cells at 550. What tests do I need and what are the drug combination options left to me. Before starting the drugs 4 years ago I had developed cardiomyopathy which is now under control. As this is a major concern I don't want to take any drug that would worsen my heart problem. What are your thoughts on my situation. Thanks
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Response from Dr. Holodniy
How do you know you developed resistance to the first regimen? Was a test performed? A resistance test here would be helpful to sort a few issues. Do you have resistance to crixivan/viracept, if so and to what degree. In other words have you developed critical mutations that knock out the whole PI class? Or could you still use ritonavir/saquinavir, ritonavir/indinavir, or amprenavir, or the new Abbott drug ABT378? It looks from your history that you have not seen AZT/ddI, both of which would be useful. Finally what mutations have developed in the sustiva/viramune class? Can you still use viramune or rescriptor?
MH
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