October 2001

Contents

Treatment alerts

• Rapidly ascending neuromuscular weakness associated with nucleoside analogues

Antiretrovirals

• Tenofovir DF: results from phase III study released

• US FDA committee recommends approval for tenofovir

• HIV suppression in lymphoid tissue varies with antiretroviral regimen

• Adherence rates lower than 95% are associated with virologic failure

• Discontinuation rates similar between HAART regimens

• African patients with non-B subtypes respond to HAART

Treatment strategies

• Aminoperazine shows promise in enhancing immune response of HIV patients

• Interleukin-2 with dual nucleoside therapy

Women's health

• Osteopenia seen in testosterone-deficient women with AIDS wasting

Pregnancy

• Resistance to nevirapine differs by HIV-1 subtype

Paediatric care

• Puberty delayed in vertically infected children

• Metabolic abnormalities in children treated and not treated with protease inhibitors

Side effects

• FDA requests changes in product information for all antiretrovirals

• Dihydrotestosterone for HAART-associated breast enlargement in men

• Corticosteroids linked to HIV-associated osteonecrosis

• Dietary factors, metabolic abnormalities and fat redistribution

• High incidence of reduced bone density found in HIV positive people

• Severe hepatic injury common after HAART initiation

Coinfections and complications

• AIDS-related lymphoma responds best to chemotherapy/HAART combination

• Imiquimod and drug resistant herpes simplex

• Can low-dose shark cartilage shrink KS?

• Respiratory failure in PCP patients can recur after HAART initiated

• Valcyte receives Dutch regulatory approval for treatment of AIDS-related CMV retinitis

Cancer and HIV

• AIDS increases risk of non-AIDS-related cancers

Hepatitis coinfection

• Early treatment with interferon alpha-2b can prevent chronic liver disease in those with hepatitis C

• Harmless hepatitis-type virus seems to extend lives of HIV-positive individuals

• Adefovir dipivoxil promising for lamivudine-resistant HBV in HIV-1 infected patients

Basic science and immunology

• Dressed to kill? A review of why antiviral CD8 T lymphocytes fail to prevent progressive immunodeficiency in HIV-1 infection

• Lymphocyte receptor pattern heightens susceptibility of GI mucosa to HIV

• Acceleration of increasing plasma HIV RNA load signals incipient progression

• NIMH scientists find new details of HIV viral reproduction process

• AIDS virus’s ability to mimic other infections weakens the body’s defences against disease

Other news

• Oxihumate may boost immune system in HIV-positive patients

• Immune Response Corp to drop study of HIV drug Remune

• Asthma prevalence high in HIV-positive men

PDFs

• Volume 2 Number 8 October 2001 PDF