Use of genotypic assays for the detection of antiretroviral resistance: a legal proceeding, Rome, 22-23 April 2002.

Dramatic decreases in morbidity and mortality have been seen among HIV-infected patients since the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy. However, the overuse of antiretroviral therapy in many clinics has contributed to a high treatment failure rate with a concomitant development of resistance to the drugs. Thus, resistance issues, together with problems related to long-term side effects, have emerged as the major threats to the long-term outcome of antiretroviral therapy. As for most anti-HIV drugs, resistance testing has been introduced into the clinic at an early stage of clinical development, before solid proof has been presented in the favour of their use. Theoretical considerations and a few clinical studies have given support to the clinicians who have used these assays. However, many of the scientific data have been presented by scientists working for or in close collaboration with commercial companies promoting the resistance assays. Therefore, it is of great value for the scientific community and for clinicians within the HIV field to have the opportunity to read a thorough analysis of the scientific evidence presented at the ‘Trial on tests for resistance to antiretroviral drugs’, held in Rome in April 2002.