Impact of Protease Inhibitor Therapy on HIV-Related Oropharyngeal Candidiasis [Arribas JR, et al. AIDS 2000; 14: 979]: This is a study of 99 patients who were treated with "triple-therapy" that included ritonavir and who were analyzed for oropharyngeal candidiasis, candidal quantification, virologic response, and CD4 cell response at 8, 16 and 48 weeks. Virologic suppression to <200 copies/mm³ at 48 weeks was achieved in only 17% of patients, but the mean CD4 cell count increased by 128 cells/mm³, and the frequency of oropharyngeal candidiasis decreased from 31% at baseline to 1% at 48 weeks. There was also a significant decrease in quantitation of candida from 2.2 to 0.8 x 103 CFU/mL. The authors concluded that the immunologic function was more important than virologic response for controlling thrush. posted 7/19/2000