HIV Treatment: ALERTS! articles from October - December 2003

HIV Treatment: ALERTS! archives from October - December 2003

Welcome.
October 1, 2003... This year has been busy in the fight against HIV. Several new HIV drugs were approved (Fuzeon, Reyataz, Lexiva, and Emtriva). While some of these offer people with HIV new ways to combat the virus, others offer modest advantages like improved...

Conference highlights ... from the 2nd International AIDS Society Conference.
October 1, 2003... EFFECTIVE ONCE-DAILY HIV REGIMEN The once-daily regimen of Emtriva, Videx EC, and Sustiva was shown to be effective and safe in 40 HIV+ patients who had never before taken HIV medication. Patients were required to have T cell counts greater...

Justifiable transplantation.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... In the past, organ transplantation usually has not been recommended in HIV+ people because of the fear that the transplant surgery and necessary immune-suppressive drugs would cause HIV disease to get worse. Also, there were concerns that HIV+...

Predicting dementia.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is a progressive brain problem that causes confusion, loss of memory, difficulties in thinking, and trouble keeping balanced. HIV-infected monocytes (a type of immune cell) carry HIV into the brains of infected...

Positive effects of exercise and vitamin E.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... Lipodystrophy is common in many HIV+ people and can even affect HIV+ patients who have never taken HIV drugs. In addition, this condition is associated with other problems such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, which can lead to future...

A better way to measure lipodystrophy.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... A recent report in the journal AIDS (17, p. 1857, 2003) described 4 HIV+ patients with lipodystrophy who also had excess fat accumulation at the front of the neck. Currently, diagnosing the severity of lipodystrophy is difficult because both...

CMV-related disease: the pros and cons of HAART.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common co-infection in HIV+ people and can lead to serious and even fatal opportunistic disease of the eye, colon, esophagus, and brain. While the occurrence of CMV-related organ disease has dramatically decreased...

The safety of STIs.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... Recent studies have examined structured treatment interruptions (STIs) to see if they are safe and if they benefit HIV+ patients. Giving patients a break from HIV drugs was thought to decrease drug side effects and give the immune system a...

FDA approves 2 HIV drugs.(FDA Bits)
October 1, 2003... * FDA approves 2 HIV drugs. This summer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 2 new drugs to help treat HIV. Each drug is taken once daily in combination with other HIV drugs. Emtriva is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor...

Boost Reyataz if taken with Viread.(FDA Bits)
October 1, 2003... * Boost Reyataz if taken with Viread. Recent studies have shown that when the protease inhibitor Reyataz is taken with Viread (another HIV drug), Reyataz levels decrease, making it less effective at controlling HIV. If Reyataz and Viread are...

New information on Viread.(FDA Bits)
October 1, 2003... * New information on Viread. New precautions have been added to the labeling for the nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, Viread. In clinical studies, patients taking Viread experienced bone loss (lower bone density). Also, patients with...

SWATCH watch.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... The idea of alternating HIV drug combinations is not new, but usually patients switch to a new combination after their virus becomes resistant to the first set of drugs. The SWATCH study (SWitching Antiviral Therapy Combination against HIV-1)...

Early response to HAART means longer survival.(Treatment News)
October 1, 2003... The majority of patients who have had long-term viral control during the first 18 months of combination of HIV therapy (also known as highly active antiretroviral therapy or HAART) are still alive 5 years, later, compared to patients who had...

Patient/doctor.(Q & A)
October 1, 2003... Q: I am a 44-year-old male and have had HIV for 8 years. I have always been on combination HIV drugs, but have switched around a lot because of side effects or better (simpler) drugs coming along. Right now, I am on Videx, Epivir, and Sustiva....

Don't believe everything you read.(Keeping It Real)
October 1, 2003... We all suffer from what has become known as TMI--too much information. Our televisions, magazines, newspapers, computers, cell phones, fax machines, etc. have provided us with TMI. This includes the area of HIV treatment. One reason there is so...

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... OCTOBER 23 Case manager training--treatment update 9:00-11:30 am 1407 Hawthorne Street 713-527-8219 ext. 108 to register 28 Journal Club Noon at The Center for AIDS 1407 Hawthorne Brown bag lunch NOVEMBER 6 Conversations at...

Baylor College of Medicine.(Clinical Trial Information)
October 1, 2003... Researchers are looking into ways fat cells and fat metabolism are different in people with HIV. Studies can offer compensation ($) and free parking to eligible participants. All lab work and tests are free. Contact Dr. Khaleel Rehman if you...

Galveston.(Clinical Trial Information)
October 1, 2003... The AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston is conducting several clinical trials. A few of these are listed below. For more information, contact the ACTU at 409-747-0214 or toll free at...

Montrose Clinic.(Clinical Trial Information)
October 1, 2003... The following studies are enrolling at the Montrose Clinic in Houston. * GS-01-934: This 48-week study will look at an HIV treatment regimen of Viread, Emtriva, and Sustiva compared to Combivir and Sustiva. To participate, you must have...

Triple nuke nightmare.(Bottom Lines)
October 1, 2003... Last July, an Important Drug Warning was issued to healthcare providers concerning a high rate of virologic failure with a once-daily, 3-drug combination of Viread, Epivir, and Ziagen. Data from study ESS30009, which compared Sustiva versus...

US guidelines updated.(Bottom Lines)
October 1, 2003... The Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents is published and updated by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Guidelines Panel is made up of researchers, physicians, community...

Definitions.
October 1, 2003... Adherence: how well someone takes medication as directed, with respect to number and timing of doses. Antioxidant: certain vitamins and other substances that provide protection from the damage caused by "free radicals," which are created...

Useful resources.
October 1, 2003... The Well Project is a company conceived, developed, and administered by HIV+ women and those who work with them every day. The site features discussion groups, a women's center, and much more. www.thewellproject.com Project Vote Smart:...

Community spotlight.
October 1, 2003... Houston Area Community Services, Inc. (HACS) is a minority-focused, non-profit, community-based agency that provides health, social, and advocacy services to individuals and families within Houston and surrounding counties. HACS places a...