Elucidating Crixivan side effect

The HIV protease inhibitor Crixivan indinavir causes signs of potential liver side effects in up to 25% of patients taking the product, causing physicians to change treatment. Researchers now have identified the mechanism responsible for the side effect, providing both a genetic polymorphism that can be used to screen patients, as well as a target for screening new HIV protease inhibitors.

Crixivan, which is marketed by Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.), is used in combination with other antiretroviral agents to treat HIV/AIDS. However a large proportion of patients treated with indinavir develop indirect hyperbilirubinemia (increased plasma levels of unconjugated bilirubin). Because the liver is responsible for conjugation and excretion of bilirubin into bile, elevated bilirubin levels are often a sign of impaired liver function...