Sildenafil plasma concentrations in two HIV patients with pulmonary hypertension treated with ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors

Curr HIV Res. 2012 Mar;10(2):162-4. doi: 10.2174/157016212799937263.

Abstract

Sildenafil is increasingly used for the therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in HIV infected patients. However, concerns exist about pharmacokinetic interactions between sildenafil and protease inhibitors (PI); in particular, ritonavir has been shown to increase sildenafil AUC and Cmax by several folds. The aim of our study was to determine the plasma levels of sildenafil and PI in two HIV patients with PAH treated with antiretroviral therapy including ritonavir-boosted PI. Our patients both experienced sildenafil Cmax above 500 ng/mL; however, they did not report any significant adverse reactions to sildenafil during the follow-up period. Therapeutic drug monitoring of sildenafil should be taken in consideration during treatment in order to avoid overdosage.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Drug Interactions
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / blood
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / blood
  • Piperazines / pharmacokinetics*
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Purines / blood
  • Purines / pharmacokinetics
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Ritonavir / therapeutic use*
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Sulfones / blood
  • Sulfones / pharmacokinetics*
  • Sulfones / therapeutic use
  • Vasodilator Agents / blood
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfones
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Ritonavir