Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of antiretroviral treatments in adults infected with HIV-1, in which at least 10 patients per treatment arm showed clinical progression and for which data were collected on HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4 cell count.
Specific interventions included in the review
Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI): zidovudine, dideoxyinosine, dideoxycytidine, lamivudine. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI): nevirapine, delavirdine lorcride. Protease inhibitors (PI): ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir.
Participants included in the review
Adults infected with HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1). In some trials, patients had already been treated with antiretroviral agents. Baseline CD4 cell count ranged from 0-500/mm.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Sixteen week change from baseline in HIV-1 RNA; 16 week change from baseline in CD4 cell count; and rate of clinical progression (clinical progression to AIDS or death). Outcomes examined at 24 weeks where data available.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.