Genetic Predictors of Raltegravir Penetration Into Cerebrospinal Fluid

The multidrug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is expressed in the blood-brain barrier where it limits entry of substrate drugs into the central nervous system. Raltegravir (MK-0158), a new HIV-1 integrase inhibitor and potentially major addition to the therapeutic armamentarium against HIV, is a substrate for P-gp. Studies are warranted to elucidate the relevance of P-gp transport for raltegravir in the central nervous system.