Female sex and the use of anti-allergic agents increase the risk of developing cutaneous rash associated with nevirapine therapy

To identify factors associated with cutaneous rash, we performed a retrospe ctive multicentre analysis of HIV outpatients starting a highly active anti retroviral therapy regimen containing nevirapine. A total of 62 cutaneous a dverse events were observed in 429 patients. Rash hazard was increased in w omen, by the prophylactic use of glucocorticoids or antihistaminics, and wa s reduced by escalating the initial dose of nevirapine. Women receiving glu cocorticoids had a 3 month cumulative probability of rash of 0.41.