Efavirenz intoxication due to slow hepatic metabolism.

Author(s): Hasse B, Gunthard HF, Bleiber G, Krause M

Affiliation(s): Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Muensterlingen, Muensterlingen, Switzerland. barbara.hasse@stgag.ch

Publication date & source: 2005-02-01, Clin Infect Dis., 40(3):e22-3. Epub 2005 Jan 7.

Publication type: Case Reports

We describe a human immunodeficiency virus-positive woman who presented with severe psychosis while she was receiving therapy with efavirenz. Her plasma efavirenz level was excessively high. Genetic investigation showed that she was homozygous for the CYP2B6 G516T allele, resulting in slow hepatic metabolism. After the dosage of efavirenz was lowered, all neuropsychiatric symptoms subsided.