Medical HIV News Briefs Archives

HIV Patients At Greater Risk For Bone Fractures
ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2008) — HIV-infected patients have a higher prevalence of fractures than non HIV-infected patients, across both genders and critical fracture sites according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
"Prior studies have indicated reduced bone density in HIV-infected patients, but little was known whether fracture risk increased in this population," said Dr. Steven Grinspoon, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and lead author of the study. "These data are the first to suggest that there is a clinically significant increase in bone fractures among HIV-infected patients, using data from a large healthcare system."  The Endocrine Society (2008, August 28). HIV Patients At Greater Risk For Bone Fractures. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 29, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/08/080828084050.htm     
Fracture Prevalence among HIV-Infected versus Non HIV-Infected Patients in a Large U.S. Healthcare System. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Published July 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-0828
 

Long-term HIV treatment cuts risk of hardening of coronary artery
Patients taking long-term antiretroviral therapy may be less likely than their HIV-negative peers to develop heart disease, according to a US study published in the August 20^th edition of AIDS. Read More >>

Low CD4 cell count, but not HIV treatment, increases risk of hardening of the arteries
HIV-positive patients with a low CD4 cell count have an increased risk of vascular disease, a US study published in the August 20^th edition of AIDS reports. Unlike some earlier research, however, the study found little evidence that HIV treatment increased the risk of vascular disease, although men who received protease inhibitors did have a slightly elevated risk of lesions in the carotid artery. Read More >>

Next generation first-line NNRTI, rilpivirine (TMC278) potent; lowest dose better-tolerated than efavirenz at 96 weeks
Tibotec’s next-generation NNRTI, rilpivirine (previously known as TMC278) continues to suppress viral load and increase CD4 counts in similar numbers of treatment-naïve patients to efavirenz (Sustiva) over 96 weeks according to Phase IIb study data presented to the recent XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. When compared to efavirenz, however, rilpivirine appears to produce a lower incidence of rash, central nervous system disorders, and lipid abnormalities. Read More >>

FDA: Atazanavir Label Updated
"The Reyataz (atazanavir) package insert has been updated to include important drug-drug interaction information regarding the administration of Reyataz with or without ritonavir and nevirapine, efavirenz, hormonal contraceptives, orally and parenterally administered midazolam, H₂-receptor antagonists and drugs that are substrates of cytochrome P450 2C8." For more information, read the FDA press release and the AIDSinfo atazanavir drug fact sheet. AIDSInfo At-a-Glance Volume 4 Issue 35 (8/22/08)

Study: HAART Treatment Improves Syphilis Response Rates
"New research indicates that in patients co-infected with HIV, highly active antiretroviral therapy reduces syphilis serologic failure rates." For more information, read the full story and study abstract. AIDSInfo At-a-Glance Volume 4 Issue 35 (8/22/08)

Study Identifies HIV-Modulated Host Proteins That Effect Lipid Metabolism
"HIV replication alone (i.e., without any influence of antiviral drugs, or other human genetic factors), can induce novel cellular enzymes and proteins that are significantly associated with biologically relevant processes involved in lipid synthesis, transport and metabolism." For more information, read the study abstract. AIDSInfo At-a-Glance Volume 4 Issue 35 (8/22/08)

NIDA: HAART Equally Effective in Patients with or without History of Injection Drug Use
AIDSinfo At-A-Glance Volume 4 Issue 33 (8/8/08)
"[S]ome doctors have been reluctant to prescribe HAART to HIV-infected injection drug users because of concern that they may not fully benefit from the therapy. A new study by investigators funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and led by the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Canada, suggests that this is not the case: in their large, community-based study of HIV-infected people, injection drug users and people who did not inject drugs had equivalent survival rates seven years after initiating HAART." For more information, read the full NIH press release.

Earlier Treatment of HIV Could Help HIV-Positive People Avoid Long-Term Complications, Recommendations Say
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53720

Tuberculosis Drug Interferes With HIV Treatment, JAMA Study Says
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53721

Human Growth Hormone Could Reduce Fat Deposits Caused by HIV Treatment, JAMA Study Finds
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53686
 

Study: Once Daily Atazanavir/Ritonavir as Effective as Twice Daily Lopinavir/RitonavirAIDSinfo At-A-Glance Volume 4 Issue 33 (8/8/08)
"Once-daily treatment with atazanavir/ritonavir (A/R) is as effective as twice-daily treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir (L/R) in HIV patients who are starting antiretroviral treatment for the first time, a European study shows." For more information, read the full story.

Persistance of Nevirapine Could Result in Development of Resistant HIV
AIDSinfo At-A-Glance Volume 4 Issue 33 (8/8/08)
"New research presented Tuesday at the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City suggests that nevirapine persists in the mother's blood and breast milk for at least two weeks, which could lead to the development of resistant viral strains. 'In the short term, nevirapine is better than nothing,' said Dr. David Katzenstein, a member of the Stanford University School of Medicine team that authored the study. 'But in the long term, I'm concerned about conferring resistance. If you're talking about resistance on a broad scale, it could jeopardize future treatment for mothers and infants.' " For more information, read the full story.

Updated Pediatric Treatment Guidelines Now Available
AIDSinfo At-A-Glance Volume 4 Issue 32