•  FROM THE EDITOR: WORLD AIDS DAY 2004

This Wednesday, Dec. 1, marks World AIDS Day, and this year's important event will focus on the female side of the global pandemic. Women now account for nearly half of all HIV cases worldwide, with even higher rates among Africans and youths -- and those numbers are bound to only grow higher unless we all work harder to empower women everywhere to protect themselves from infection.

To learn more about the state of the HIV pandemic among women, and to find out more about how you can get involved in World AIDS Day events in your community, visit The Body's home page for World AIDS Day 2004. Help us spread awareness and understanding throughout your town -- and throughout the world!

- Bonnie Goldman, Editorial Director

•  HIV MEDICATIONS

Why Does Nobody Take Delavirdine?
I have recently switched to delavirdine (Rescriptor) after having really bad reactions to efavirenz (Sustiva, Stocrin) and nevirapine (Viramune), the two other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. I live in Los Angeles, yet my HIV specialist and my pharmacy have told me that I'm the only patient they have who is on delavirdine. Why is nobody else taking this drug?


How Far Off Are New Entry Inhibitors?
In a recent interview, two major AIDS researchers seemed optimistic about new HIV fusion and integrase inhibitors that will be available within the next few years. Are these new drugs really that close, and will they be easier to take than T-20 (enfuvirtide, Fuzeon)?

•  HIV TREATMENT ISSUES

Transmitting Drug Resistance to a Spouse
My wife was diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy, and took two-drug therapy until our son was born. Afterward, since her CD4 count was high and her viral load was low, she stopped treatment completely on the advice of her doctor. I was diagnosed with HIV not long afterward. Because my wife stopped treatment, is there a chance she may have developed some drug resistance -- and that I was later infected with the resistant strain, or that our strains may have somehow mixed to become even more dangerous?


Is a Drug Holiday Safe for Me?
I'd like to give my body a break from meds. I've had an undetectable viral load for the past two years while on Trizivir (AZT/3TC/abacavir)-only therapy, and my CD4 count is between 700 and 800. I've been HIV positive since 1997, but my CD4 count has never been below 600. Do you think it'd be OK to stop treatment for a year or two?


Should I Switch Off This Once-a-Day Regimen?
I'm taking a once-a-day regimen of ddI EC (didanosine, Videx EC), efavirenz (Sustiva, Stocrin) and tenofovir (Viread), but I read a recent report warning against the use of this regimen. My viral load is hovering between 10,000 and 30,000, and my CD4 has recently dropped from 380 to 320. Should I be concerned?

• COMPLICATIONS OF HIV/HAART

Questions on Flu Vaccination, Vanishing Resistance
I have questions on two different topics: First, my uncle's doctor has recommended that he not get a flu vaccine this year. He said it might lower my uncle's CD4 count, which is now 250. My uncle's viral load is 31,000; he's been on a treatment interruption since March 2003. Is it really wise for him not to get a flu shot? Second, my uncle was resistant to many HIV medications before he began his drug holiday. But his latest resistance test showed he's not resistant to ANY medications. Is this possible?


What's Causing My High Cholesterol?
I joined a clinical trial for Epzicom (abacavir/3TC), fosamprenavir (908, Lexiva, Telzir) and ritonavir (Norvir) in June, and have done great -- my CD4 count is way up and my viral load is undetectable. However, my cholesterol has also shot up to 221. I exercise often, eat right and don't smoke or do drugs. What steps can I take to find out what's causing my high cholesterol, and how I can lower it without taking more drugs?

ONLY ONE DAY LEFT:

NOMINATE SOMEONE NOW FOR AN HIV LEADERSHIP AWARD!

Pregunte a Dr. Bagur Acerca:
DE TRATAMIENTOS DEL VIH

Need to talk to a Spanish-
speaking HIV doctor about HIV treatment? Post your question for Dr. Jorge L. Santana Bagur, one of two talented physicians answering questions in our "Tratamientos del VIH/SIDA" Ask the Experts forum.

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