NAPWA

A roundup of HIV treatments developments from the IAS Conference in Cape Town. read more »

Viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. and CD4 cell count results are two of the main tests used to inform treatment decisions about starting or changing treatments. Usually every time you have regular blood tests a whole range of other tests are done. Some of these are useful in monitoring for possible drug side effects and potential organ damage. read more »

Starting Highly Active AntiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Therapy can improve some of the things that lead to heart problems but not all of them, a recent studyA clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase IA clinical trial designed to establish whether an experimental drug is safe for humans to take. Phase I studies determine the metabolism and pharmacologic actions of drugs in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and look for early evidence of effectiveness; these studies may include either people with HIV, HIV-negative volunteers, or both tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase IIA smaller clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective. Phase II studies are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication or indications in patients with the disease or condition under study and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks. If there is evidence that the drug is effective, a Phase III study is undertaken, with a larger number of participaants, to confirm this. expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase IIIA large clinical trial designed to establish whether a drug is effective and safe enough for widespread use. Phase III studies include expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to gather additional information to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide and adequate basis for physician labeling. expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IVPost-marketing studies to delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. has revealed. Arteries which are already thickened or hardened do not improve on treatment. Metabolic complications, including increases in blood levels of lipids, are common in people on treatment and can also contribute to this condition. read more »

Abacavir should be avoided by people who are in the high cardiovascular risk group. read more »

Latest results presented by investigators at the CROI meeting in February in Boston suggested that treatment with abacavir (also found in the combination pills Kivexa and Trizivir) and ddI (didanosine, Videx) may significantly increase the risk of myocardial infarction, or heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.. read more »

A major HIV/AIDS medical conference in Sydney has generated lots of news on the treatments front, reports Paul Kidd. read more »

Nucleoside analoguesA type of anti-HIV drug that works by inhibiting a stage of the HIV life cycle called reverse transcription. Non-nucleosides work in a similar way, but are chemically different. are the backbone of successful anti-HIV treatments. This article examines some of the issues involved in selecting the best nucleoside backbone. read more »

Kivexa, a new single-pill combination of the antiviralA medication or substance which is active against one or more virusesA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell.. May include anti-HIV drugs, but these are more accurately termed antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV.. drugs abacavir (Ziagen) and lamivudine (3TC) became available for S100 prescription from 1 December. read more »

HIV-related news in brief from the Feb-Mar 2004 edition of Positive Living. read more »