July 2002

Contents

Treatment alerts

• BMS advice on interaction between didanosine EC and tenofovir

Antiretrovirals

• Optimal antiretroviral drug levels improve outcomes

• Roche and Trimeris announce 24-week results from second pivotal study of HIV fusion inhibitor T-20

• New study adds to evidence showing adherence is linked to survival

• Intermittent use of ART is associated with increased mortality

Treatment access

• Hydroxychloroquine, hydroxycarbamide, and didanosine as economic treatment for HIV-1

• US foundation bars GlaxoSmithKline representatives over AIDS drug pricing

Women's health

• In switch study, women twice as likely as men to discontinue HAART due to toxicities

Pregnancy

• Complications may outweigh benefits of Caesarian delivery

• Complex therapy reduces vertical transmission risk

Paediatric care

• Increased incidence of osteonecrosis of the hip observed in HIV-infected children

Guidelines

• Updated guidelines for using antiretroviral agents among HIV-positive adults and adolescents (2002): recommendations of the Panel on Clinical Practices for Treatment of HIV

Basic science and immunology

• HIV selectively suppresses anti-HIV defence cells

• The number of CD4+ T cells infected with HIV is predictive of CD4+:CD8+ ratio

• New evidence for NK cells as long-term host

• Greater thymic tissue associated with increased immunologic recovery

• CD8+ T cells from HIV-exposed but uninfected individuals suppress HIV activity

• HIV subtype D linked with faster progression to death than subtype A in Uganda study

Other news

• BMS announces marketing authorisation application submitted in Europe for atazanavir

• Natural compound used in India reduces cholesterol by blocking metabolism-controlling receptor

• Leading clinician warns of funding crisis associated with UK primary care trusts

On the web

• Resolution of renal failure after initiation of HAART: three cases and a discussion of the literature, from The AIDS Reader

• Development of the dual-subtype feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine

• HLA leaves its footprints on HIV

• Exploiting pharmacokinetics to optimise antiretroviral therapy

• Highlights from the 23 May 2002 supplement: Safety and Toxicity of Individual Antiretroviral Agents in Pregnancy

• Rhabdomyolysis due to probable interaction between simvastatin and ritonavir

• Largely favourable outcome for HIV+ transplant recipients

PDFs

• Volume 3 Number 6 July 2002 PDF