March 28, 2007

•  COMPLICATIONS OF HIV & HIV MEDS

Lipids, HIV and HIV Meds: New Twists on an Old Story
Just when we thought we were getting a handle on what causes HIV- or HIV treatment-associated love handles and fat-free limbs, well-designed studies come along to burst our ill-informed bubbles. The Body's David Wohl, M.D., analyzes the major studies on metabolic complications presented at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.


HIV Meds During Pregnancy Do Not Increase Birth Defect Risk, Major Study Finds
A large, 14-year study by U.S. researchers has found that the use of HIV meds by HIV-positive women during pregnancy does not generally increase their baby's risk of having birth defects. The only exception is Sustiva (efavirenz, Stocrin), which is well-known to cause birth defects in animals and for years has not been recommended for use by pregnant women. The study did find a "possible" risk for genital defects in baby boys, but said much more research was needed before they would know either way. (Web highlight from aidsmap.com)


Vitamin Deficiencies and HIV: Still an Open Question
Before widespread use of antiretroviral therapy in the developed world, vitamin deficiencies may have been common in people with HIV. However, little is known about vitamin deficiencies among people currently taking HIV meds. For instance, a recent study published in a reputable HIV medical journal looked at long-term HIV survivors who were stable on treatment; it found that they were unlikely to have a deficiency in vitamin A, vitamin E or selenium, but quite likely to have a zinc deficiency. Hopefully, future research will shed more light on the relationship between vitamin levels and HIV treatment.

•  RACE/ETHNICITY & HIV

Research Explores Racial/Ethnic Differences Among U.S. HIVers
HIV is colorblind. But if that's so, why do certain racial and ethnic minorities seem to be hit harder by the U.S. HIV epidemic -- not only in terms of being diagnosed more often, but also in terms of starting treatment later and developing certain health problems and side effects more frequently? The Body's Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D., explores these issues through the lens of several studies presented at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

•  HIV TREATMENT

Scientists Solve the Grapefruit Mystery
Ever wonder why you've been warned not to eat grapefruits or drink grapefruit juice while taking certain HIV medications? Scientists have finally figured out why: A chemical found in grapefruits, pomelos and Seville oranges has been identified as a cause of potentially dangerous increased drug levels in the bloodstream. (Web highlight from The Washington Post)


How to Build a Better Virus Trap
"They want to wipe them out by luring them to their destruction." This quote isn't talking about the plot of 300 or the war on terror: It's how The New York Times describes researchers' attempts to fight viruses, such as HIV, using strategies that have never been used before. One theory is centered on "trapping" the virus inside a person's red blood cells, where it is unable to replicate and would thus be gradually destroyed.


As HIV Treatment Evolves, Researchers Ask: What's Next?
Without a doubt, the success of HIV treatment over the past decade has dramatically altered the way HIVers and their doctors look at HIV. But what have we learned, and where do we go from here? A recent symposium convened by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) brought together HIV treatment experts from around the world to answer these very questions.

•  HIV/STD TRANSMISSION

Proposed New Jersey Law Could Require HIV Testing for Pregnant Women and Infants
New Jersey could become one of just a handful of U.S. states to require opt-out HIV testing for pregnant women and newborns, under a new bill New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey plans to introduce. Currently, health care providers in New Jersey must offer HIV tests to all pregnant women, but the controversial new bill would require testing every newborn and testing all pregnant women in their first trimester and again in their third trimester, unless the mother rejects the tests in writing.

Advocates of routine HIV testing for pregnant women argue that an earlier HIV diagnosis could stem the spread of HIV and give more HIVers access to treatment. However, many activists worry that without safeguards, routine testing could invade privacy and force women to take HIV tests before they're emotionally ready. In this editorial, Home News Tribune argues that the testing policy proposed in New Jersey would save lives without infringing on women’s rights.

For a rundown of HIV testing laws for pregnant women and newborns in your state, check out this page compiled by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.


False-Negative Hepatitis B Tests May Be Possible in HIVers
Even though a standard hepatitis B test may come up negative, some HIV-positive people may nonetheless be infected with hepatitis B, according to the results of two newly published studies. The studies suggest that standard screening could miss very low levels of hep B in an HIVer's blood, especially if they had a viral load above 1,000. If doctors find an unexplained rise in liver enzymes in an HIV-positive person, they should consider a hepatitis B DNA test to spot a potentially "hidden" case of hep B, the researchers said. (Web highlight from aidsmap.com)

•  HIV IN THE NEWS

California May Permit Use of HIV-Positive Sperm in Fertility Treatments
The California Senate Health Committee will soon debate a bill that would allow HIV-positive men to have their sperm washed and used for fertility treatments, which significantly lowers the risk of HIV transmission. Currently, California is one of only two states that does not allow male HIVers to use their sperm for fertility treatment. Eighty percent of surveyed fertility centers in the state have said that, if the bill were passed into law, they would provide services to couples where the man is HIV positive.


HIV-Positive Canadian Woman Charged With Sexual Assault
A Toronto-area HIV-positive woman has been charged with sexual assault after allegedly having unprotected intercourse with multiple men without disclosing her HIV status. Local police said she had been "quite sexually active" and sought out men in local bars and on an Internet dating site. Police issued a public alert complete with a photograph to help locate the woman’s partners. Three men have already come forward. (Web highlight from Reuters)