Patients are randomized to receive stavudine plus lamivudine plus nelfinavir, Combivir (zidovudine plus lamivudine) plus nelfinavir, or Combivir plus abacavir. Patients are stratified into 2 groups based on their screening plasma HIV-1 RNA: (1) greater than 1,000 up to 100,000 copies/ml or (2) greater than 100,000 up to 200,000 copies/ml. Measurements and evaluations for assessment of body fat composition, virologic and immunologic outcomes, markers of alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and safety are performed at Baseline, Weeks 4, 8, 16, 24, and every 12 weeks thereafter until Week 96 or withdrawal. In addition, health-related quality of life and health care resource utilization data are collected at specified treatment visits.
