This is a pilot randomized controlled Open-label trial to compare raltegravir and nevirapine as anchor Drug in combined antiretroviral therapy(ART) for ART-naive HIV+ Chinese injection drug users who are also on methadone maintenance therapy. The investigators hypotheses include: 1. In raltegravir arm compared with nevirapine arm, fewer patients will require methadone dose adjustment to abate methadone withdrawal symptoms. Also the average methadone dose to achieve adequate serum methadone concentrations in patients on the raltegravir-based regimen will be lower compared to that of patients on the nevirapine-based regimen. 2. Clinical outcomes in terms of viral suppression, CD4 recovery and occurrence of opportunistic infections will be comparable in the two arms at 6 months and one year. 3. Patients in the raltegravir arm will have a similar or better side effect profile, retention rate, and treatment adherence compared to those in the nevirapine arm.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Raltegarvir 400mg bid
Division of Treatment and Care, NCAIDS, China CDC
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
RECRUITINGThe percentages of patients in both arms who require methadone dose adjustment;The average methadone dose in each arm
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in CD4+ T lymphocyte count and viral load at weeks 24 and 48 from baseline, and the documented opportunistic infections during study period.
Time frame: 1.5 year
The occurrence of side effects, adherence and retention rates in two treatment arms.
Time frame: 1.5 year
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