Thread by @dbdugger

#LongCovid #PutPaxlovidInThePast #DrugRepurposing #ProteaseInhibitorsAintFirstLineHIVMeds
Monique is looking for some facts. Let's give them to her!

https://twitter.com/Orcs2Elves/status/1604116833656655873

Back in the old days, Protease Inhibitors were used as first line regimens, as they represented the latest and greatest. Due to the significant side effects that they bring, they are disfavored as first line meds, today.

This article discusses the role protease inhibitors, including ritonavir, play in the development of conditions related to disturbances related to glucose metabolism. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

If you don't care to read lengthy journal articles and want the down and dirty, here you go: clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/drugs/riton…).

Folk out here talking about this being a vasculopathic boogie man of a virus and ain't talking about drug repurposing efforts. Dian-sheng Zhong, Xiang-huai Lu, Brian S. Conklin, Peter H. Lin, Alan B. Lumsden, Qizhi Yao and Changyi Chen would probably suggest you get busy!

It's hot off the press, fresh out da kitchen. ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.11…

These data demonstrate, for the first time, that the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir at concentrations near clinical plasma levels is able to directly cause endothelial mitochondrial DNA damage and cell death mainly through necrosis pathways but not through apoptosis.

These data suggest, for the first time, that the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir is able to cause endothelial cell injury, which may be linked to the cardiovascular complications associated with its clinical applications.

It now appears clear that clinical use of HIV protease inhibitors, including ritonavir, is associated with a potentially serious syndrome of metabolic abnormalities characterized by peripheral fat wasting, central adiposity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia,

and insulin resistance.