New CDC Interim Guidance on HIV and H1N1
NEWS IN CONTEXT
HIV-infected individuals are a high-priority group for prevention and treatment of 2009 H1N1 influenza.
Reviewing:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).,
No Increase in Transmitted HIV-Drug Resistance in Europe
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Between 2002 and 2006, the rates of transmitted drug resistance in Europe stabilized at <10%. Possible reasons abound.
Reviewing:
Vercauteren J et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Nov 15; 200:1503
Life Expectancy for HIV-Infected Patients in the U.S.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Average life expectancy continues to improve, but disparities persist.
Reviewing:
Harrison KM et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Sep 2
Dose Reduction Curbs Efavirenz Toxicity
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
November 2, 2009
Abigail Zuger, MD
Reducing the daily dose of efavirenz to 400 mg or even lower may curb the drug's toxicity without decreasing its effectiveness in patients with high plasma levels.
Reviewing:
van Luin M et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Oct 1; 52:240
Darunavir + Raltegravir + Etravirine = High Rate of Treatment Success
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
November 2, 2009
Paul E. Sax, MD
Ninety percent of highly treatment-experienced patients who received this combination achieved virologic suppression at week 24; results were sustained at week 48.
Reviewing:
Yazdanpanah Y et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Nov 1; 49:1441
A Glimmer of Hope for HIV Vaccines
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
October 22, 2009
Frances H. Priddy, MD, MPH, and Carlos del Rio, MD
A large trial has shown that a vaccine can protect against HIV acquisition. The task now is to figure out how to build on this initial success.
Reviewing:
Rerks-Ngarm S et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 20
Dolin R., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 20
A Better Way to Allocate ADAP Resources
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
October 19, 2009
Abigail Zuger, MD
When state funds cannot pay for everyone's antiretroviral therapy, treating high-risk patients first minimizes morbidity and mortality.
Reviewing:
Linas BP et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Aug 15; 51:513
Resistance Development with Tenofovir/FTC vs. AZT/3TC
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
October 19, 2009
Jonathan Z. Li, MD, and Paul E. Sax, MD
In a comparative clinical trial, patients receiving tenofovir/FTC were less likely to develop resistance mutations during virologic failure than were those receiving AZT/3TC.
Reviewing:
Margot NA et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Oct 1; 52:209
HIV-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Defies ART
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
A large case series suggests that the prognosis of PAH is not dramatically altered by effective combination antiretroviral therapy.
Reviewing:
Degano B et al., AIDS 2009 Sep 16
Switching from Enfuvirtide to Raltegravir — Safe and Effective?
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New trial results support making such a switch while continuing both the NRTIs and the PIs in the original regimen.
Reviewing:
De Castro N et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Oct 15; 49:1259
