An Evaluation of the Development of Nevirapine Induced Mutations in HIV Patients Initiating or Discontinuing Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Hypothesis Nevirapine resistance developed in women and infants in the HIVNET 006 and 012 cohorts as a consequence of use of an agent with a long t½ as monotherapy in individuals with high viral loads. Objective 1 To demonstrate that Nevirapine resistance does not develop in HIV infected patients when used as part of triple antiretroviral combination therapy between the initiation of treatment and suppression of HIV RNA to \<1000 copies/ml. Objective 2 To demonstrate that resistance to nevirapine does not develop when patients with suppressed HIV RNA discontinue combination antiretroviral therapy which contains nevirapine.