Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy has proved to effect lower morbidity and mortality
rates among HIV/AIDS patients. However, the effectiveness of continuing patient care is also important. Therefore, evaluation of treatment to improve the management
system is needed. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of triple therapy
with antiretroviral drugs by comparing CD4 cell counts, opportunistic infection rates during
treatment, side effect and adherence to treatment.
The patients’ data were retrospectively obtained from patient records. The patients
were those who came for treatment at Somdetpraboromrachineenart Hospital, Nathawee
district, Songkhla Province from January 2003 and April 2008. None of the patients received
treatment previously. CD4 cell count, body weight before and after treatment
were compared and analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
There were 46 patients who met the criteria for treatment, but complete data were
available from 42 patients, 23 were male and 19 were female, 17 had AIDS, and there were
16 symptomatic and 9 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients. The results of treatment revealed
that CD4 counts after six months in all groups were significantly increased compared
with those before treatment. Side effects occurred in 10 patients, 8 with rash, 1 with
lipoatrophy and 1 with increased SGPT level. None of the patients developed opportunistic
infection after six months of treatment until now. Almost all (39 patients) showed
good adherence to treatment.
The study concluded that triple therapy with GPO-VIR in a middle-sized community
hospital gave good results. An effective management system that helps patients to
adhere to treatment and continuing evaluation is an important factor.
