Articles tagged with Antiretrovirals
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A new NIH study aims to determine the risks and benefits of early antiretroviral treatment in asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with high CD4 counts. The study will compare immediate treatment to deferred treatment until CD4 counts fall below 350 cells/mm³.
A modeling analysis suggests that a combination of methadone substitution therapy and anti-retroviral treatment would have the greatest effect on reducing new infections and improving quality of life. Providing drug-substitution to just 25% of intravenous drug users today could lower HIV prevalence considerably.
A new study found that protease inhibitors (PIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are equally effective as initial treatment for children with HIV, delaying switch to second-line drugs does not impact long-term outcomes. Regular monitoring of viral load is crucial to prevent resistance.
The study found that earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy increased 5-year survival from 80 to 87% and showed substantially improved early clinical outcomes. In settings where ART initiation at 350/μl is already available, switching stavudine to tenofovir offers clinical benefit and is less costly than adding second-line regimens.
Researchers are conducting a large-scale clinical trial to investigate whether treating people with HIV soon after infection can limit damage to the immune system. The SPARTAC trial, which began in 2004, is following 371 individuals across eight countries and has the potential to change how HIV is managed worldwide.
Researchers discovered that activated T cells play a key role in IRIS, producing excessive interferon gamma and triggering an exaggerated immune response. A new animal model also confirmed the involvement of macrophages in sparking IRIS. These findings may lead to targeted prevention or therapy for HIV patients developing IRIS.
A trial in Kenya found that using text messages to help patients adhere to their treatment improves absolute adherence rates by 12% and numbers achieving viral load suppression by 9%. Patients who received SMS support were more likely to report adherence to ART.
Two NIH-funded studies influenced the WHO's revision of its guidelines for treating HIV-infected women and infants. The studies found that a single dose of nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission can hamper the drug's effectiveness if used later as part of a treatment regimen. As a result, the new guidelines advise against u...
Implementing electronic medical records (EMRs) in six antiretroviral treatment sites in Malawi improved quarterly cohort reports completion time from up to five days to minutes. The successful deployment of EMRs also prepared a foundation for a comprehensive electronic health record system for other chronic diseases.
The NIH proposes a three-part plan to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic by significantly expanding antiretroviral therapy access, curing a substantial proportion of infected individuals, and increasing HIV prevention measures. This comprehensive approach aims to control the spread of the disease and ultimately achieve its eradication.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that giving antiretroviral drugs to HIV-infected breastfeeding mothers is as effective as administering an HIV-fighting syrup to their babies in preventing HIV transmission. Both methods were shown to increase infant HIV-free survival rates.
A large multinational study found that antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly reduces HIV transmission risk, with 349 HIV-infected partners initiating ART at a rate of 90% HIV transmission reduction. Regular CD4 measurements and counseling services were provided to all couples.
Researchers have developed vaginal rings that can deliver therapeutic levels of two anti-HIV drugs for up to 30 days, while quick-dissolve films and almond-shaped tablets also show potential. These new formulations offer an alternative to daily microbicide gels and could provide a safer and more effective way to prevent HIV transmission.
A novel pouch system developed by Duke University researchers can provide a potentially life-saving dose of an anti-HIV medication to newborn babies born at home. The system uses foil and plastic pouches that can hold a single dose of Nevirapine, allowing mothers to give their newborns treatment shortly after birth.
The 25th anniversary of antiretroviral drug development is celebrated with a milestone Special Issue in Elsevier's Antiviral Research journal, featuring review articles from key players in the field. HIV-1 has gone from being an 'inherently untreatable' agent to one eminently susceptible to approved therapies.
A new study confirms that single-dose nevirapine can lead to HIV treatment failure in women, but only if they start full antiretroviral therapy within a year after the dose. The risk of failure decreases significantly after 12 months.
A study found that nearly a third of HIV-infected women experiencing antiretroviral therapy became pregnant over a four-year period. Pregnancy rates increased over time for those on ART, while remaining low for those not yet receiving treatment.
Researchers identified two compounds that bind to novel parts of the HIV protease enzyme, which could improve potency of existing treatments and combat drug-resistant strains. These findings open a new approach to drug design against HIV protease, targeting non-active sites that may help restore effectiveness against resistant superbugs.
Researchers found that higher antiretroviral therapy adherence was associated with lower direct health care costs for HIV-infected adults in South Africa. This decrease in costs is largely attributed to reduced hospital use, saving a median monthly health care cost of $85 per patient.
A new study found that HIV-infected postmenopausal women have a high prevalence of low bone mineral density and high bone turnover, increasing their risk for future bone fractures. The study suggests that estrogen deficiency may play a role in the accelerated bone loss in these women.
A meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 1862 HIV patients found no statistically significant difference between directly observed and self-administered antiretroviral therapy in promoting virological suppression. This suggests that directly observed therapy may not be necessary to support adherence in the general patient population.
Ann Veneman's leadership at UNICEF has sparked a debate about her potential second term, with some praising her focus on child survival while others criticize her lack of field experience. The Lancet editor Dr. Richard Horton calls for a transparent, merit-based appointment process to select the next Executive Director.
A clinical trial found that adding two antiretroviral drugs to single-dose nevirapine effectively reduces drug resistance in mothers and babies. The combination regimen is safe, easy to provide, and effective in preventing subsequent nevirapine resistance.
Scientists have discovered the atomic structure of an enzyme responsible for DNA replication in human mitochondria, which can cause harmful drug side effects. By targeting a different region of the enzyme, researchers aim to design more selective and less toxic anti-HIV drugs.
In a Rwandan pilot program, nurses safely and effectively prescribed antiretroviral therapy to patients with HIV after completing at least 50 consultations. The study found that patients who received treatment showed improved health outcomes, including increased weight gain and CD4 cell counts.
Researchers found moderate to perfect agreement between nurses' and doctors' ART recommendations, suggesting increased investment in training non-physician clinicians to deliver therapy. This shift could fill a gap in rural areas where physicians are scarce, improving access to HIV/AIDS treatment.
A new class of HIV antiretroviral drugs has been shown to be effective for patients beginning treatment, with raltegravir demonstrating faster action and lower side effects than efavirenz. The study found that half the raltegravir group reached viral suppression by week four, compared to less than 20% of the efavirenz group.
A randomized controlled trial found that raltegravir-based combination treatment is effective and well-tolerated in treatment-naive patients, with faster action and fewer adverse events than efavirenz. The study included 281 patients given raltegravir and 282 given efavirenz.
Research suggests that starting antiretroviral therapy at a CD4 count of 350 is highly cost-effective. This approach may reduce morbidity, mortality, and improve long-term survival for patients in South Africa.
In Ethiopia, the scale-up of antiretroviral treatment has achieved remarkable success in expanding access to treatment and HIV counseling and testing. However, HIV prevention interventions and managing chronic care patients are lagging behind. Task shifting to health officers and workers is credited with these successes, but urgent att...
A study published in The Lancet found that early antiretroviral treatment can significantly improve survival rates among HIV-positive patients. By initiating treatment when CD4 cell counts fall between 351 and 450 cells/µL, the risk of AIDS development and death was reduced by 28%.
A new study analyzing over 45,000 people with HIV in Europe and North America found that starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) at a minimum CD4-cell count of 350 cells per µL reduces AIDS-related events and death rates. The findings challenge current guidelines recommending cART initiation at a lower threshold.
A recent study found that HIV-positive patients are entering care with lower initial CD4 cell counts and often require antiretroviral therapy soon after diagnosis. The trend suggests the virus has become more virulent, with a significant increase in patients requiring treatment before reaching the threshold of 350 CD4 cells/mm³.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that starting antiretroviral treatment earlier can significantly increase survival rates among asymptomatic HIV patients. The research, led by Dr. Mari Kitahata at the University of Washington, analyzed data from over 17,500 patients and showed that delaying treatment u...
Researchers find suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) activates latent HIV in cells and blood samples, potentially improving upon HAART treatment. This breakthrough offers new hope for eradicating the virus.
A study of over 2,000 HIV-infected prisoners found that 80% experienced significant interruptions in antiretroviral therapy after release. This can lead to poor clinical outcomes and the creation of drug-resistant HIV reservoirs in the community.
Two large clinical trials found that IL-2 immunotherapy increases CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy, but fails to reduce the risk of opportunistic diseases or death. The treatment's efficacy was not linked to better health outcomes.
African HIV patients achieve near-perfect adherence rates due to prioritizing treatment to maintain social relationships and ensure future support. This contrasts with North American rates, where individualistic values may hinder adherence success.
Researchers found strong associations between intermittent HIV treatment and higher levels of inflammation and blood-clotting biomarkers, leading to a higher risk of death from non-AIDS diseases. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer levels rose significantly in the intermittent-treatment group after one month.
A study published in the journal AIDS found that HIV-infected patients taking efavirenz had higher treatment adherence and lower rates of virologic failure and death compared to those taking nevirapine. This suggests a more favorable clinical outcome for efavirenz-based therapies.
Researchers discovered ABC-transporters expressed on vascular endothelial cells, which decrease the intracellular concentrations of anti-HIV drugs like saquinavir and zidovudine. Inhibiting these transporters with verapamil or MK-571 increases drug retention, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy to improve HAART efficacy.
Robert Siliciano, an HIV expert, says that current antiretroviral drug combinations can suppress the ability of HIV to replicate, with some combos reducing copies to less than one in a billion. However, progress is still needed to identify and eliminate viral reservoirs that persist in the body.
A study published in the journal AIDS has found that long-term antiretroviral therapy for HIV may offer protection against atherosclerosis. The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study measured coronary artery calcification in nearly 950 HIV-positive and HIV-negative men, finding CAC scores were almost 60% lower in those on HAART.
A study of 3,116 patients with and without a history of injection drug use found similar survival rates after 4-5 years of receiving HAART. The results challenge the prevailing notion that IDUs may not derive full benefits from HAART due to social instability.
The International AIDS Society–USA Panel updated treatment guidelines to reflect recent data on antiretroviral therapy. The new guidelines recommend starting therapy before CD4 cell count declines to less than 350/μL, with individualized regimens tailored to patient needs.
A study published in JAMA Network found that patients receiving rifampicin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy are more likely to experience virological failure when starting nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy. In contrast, efavirenz-based ART was associated with similar virological suppression rates regardless of tuberculosis status.
A new combination therapy using raltegravir has shown promising results in treating HIV, particularly in patients with highly resistant strains. The study found that 62% of patients achieved undetectable viral loads, while only 1 in 3 receiving a placebo showed similar reductions.
Researchers found that combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) increased life expectancy for HIV patients by more than 13 years. The study, published in The Lancet, analyzed data from 43,355 HIV-positive participants and found a nearly 40% drop in AIDS deaths.
A federally funded consortium of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine found that children treated for HIV are at higher risk of developing asthma. CD4 cells increase in these children, leading to inflammation in lung tissue and worsening asthma symptoms.
Access to antiretroviral therapy has been associated with substantial reductions in HIV incidence. Expanded access can reduce AIDS-related illness and deaths, making it a viable prevention strategy.
Participants in a clinical trial reported multiple motivations for continued participation, with 80% citing personal benefit and helping others as key reasons. They also expressed pride in advancing scientific knowledge and believed their contribution was important to society.
A study published in The Lancet found that free antiretroviral therapy in Malawi led to a significant reduction in adult mortality, particularly among adults aged 15-59 years. Mortality rates declined by 10% overall, with an even greater drop of 35% observed in areas near the main road where pre-ART mortality was highest.
Researchers at Stanford University have synthesized a compound that can be tailored to flush HIV out of hiding and into the crosshairs for targeted destruction. By synthesizing prostratin and DPP, two compounds found in plants, scientists can now tackle the virus more effectively.
A study published in The Lancet suggests that clinical monitoring is as effective as using CD4 count or viral load measures in advising when to switch to second-line ART. This finding has implications for resource-limited settings where access to laboratory tests may be limited.
A study published in The Lancet found that recent use of abacavir and didanosine was associated with an increased rate of heart attacks, while cumulative use showed no association. The researchers suggest underlying biological mechanisms may be responsible for the increased risk.
A study suggests that accelerating efforts to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa could prevent over 1.2 million AIDS-related deaths by 2012, with full access reducing projected deaths to 800,000. Current treatment capacity would lead to 2.4 million deaths.
The article discusses the controversy surrounding when to initiate antiretroviral treatment in children with HIV. Dr. Steven Welch argues for deferred treatment to avoid poor adherence habits and drug resistance, while Professor Di Gibb advocates for early initiation to prevent disease progression and promote healthy growth.
Researchers found that HIV persists in the gut despite long-term antiretroviral therapy, which failed to eradicate the virus from gut-associated lymphoid tissue. B-cell abnormalities also persisted, with memory B cells failing to recover after treatment.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that HIV medications Abacavir and Didanosine significantly increase the risk of heart attacks in patients. The risk is higher for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, but can be mitigated by stopping use of these drugs.
A new study suggests that antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV can also protect people from getting the AIDS virus, especially when two drugs are taken in combination before exposure to the virus. The best protection was seen in macaques that received a combination of two drugs, with all being protected from infection.