HAART Use (haart + use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The changing face of HIV-associated lymphoma: what can we learn about optimal therapy inl the post highly active antiretroviral therapy era?

HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Alison Clayton
Abstract Epidemiological data indicate that the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in HIV positive individuals is related to age and CD4 count (i.e. degree of immunosuppression). The prognosis of patients with HIV-NHL has been shown to be linked to several features including age, stage, modified IPI, prior AIDS diagnosis, CD4 count, immunoblastic pathology, LDH, and HAART use. These features are, as would be expected, a mixture of prognostic factors relating to both the HIV, and to the NHL. Population studies indicate that the incidence of associated (HIV-NHL) may be reducing with the advent of HAART, although not all studies concur. However, most population-based studies have not as yet shown a significant improvement in the survival of patients with HIV-NHL with HAART. The optimal chemotherapy for these patients is unknown, although it is generally accepted that CNS prophylaxis is mandatory. There is currently no good evidence of any survival benefit with increased dose intensity from large RCT. However, it must be borne in mind that the large randomised studies comparing differing dose intensities were undertaken before the advent of effective HAART. There is some evidence that there may be a subset of good prognosis patients who may benefit from more intensive therapy.6 Given that the prognosis of patients with HIV can now be considerably improved with HAART, we cannot necessarily assume that the same results would apply with regard to chemotherapy dose intensity. There is some evidence that there is a survival benefit from the addition of HAART to chemotherapy, although this is retrospective. It is likely, however, that the reason for this is that the HAART improves the prognosis of the patients from their HIV, and therefore reduces the number of patients dying from other HIV-related illnesses whilst in remission from their lymphoma, as was seen in large numbers of patients in the earlier chemotherapy trials. It must not be forgotten that the prognosis of the patient's NHL is intimately linked to their prognosis with respect to the HIV. Although the number of patients with HIV-NHL is currently few, there is a need for more trials of chemotherapy, particularly now in the HAART era, when the prognosis from the point of view of the HIV has improved so much. In particular, the issue of dose intensity needs revisiting for patients whose overall prognosis can be improved by commencing HAART. Patients with HIV-NHL should be managed at specialist centres, and where possible should be managed as part of RCT. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Hepatitis B or hepatitis C coinfection in HIV-infected pregnant women in Europe

HIV MEDICINE, Issue 7 2008
M Landes
Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis C or B virus (HCV or HBV) coinfection among HIV-infected pregnant women, and to investigate their immunological and virological characteristics and antiretroviral therapy use. Methods Information on HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) was collected retrospectively from the antenatal records of HIV-infected women enrolled in the European Collaborative Study and linked to prospectively collected data. Results Of 1050 women, 4.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6,6.3] were HBsAg positive and 12.3% (95% CI 10.4,14.4) had anti-HCV antibody. Women with an injecting drug use(r) (IDU) history had the highest HCV-seropositivity prevalence (28%; 95% CI 22.8,35.7). Risk factors for HCV seropositivity included IDU history [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.92; 95% CI 1.86,4.58], age (for ,35 years vs. <25 years, AOR 3.45; 95% CI 1.66,7.20) and HBsAg carriage (AOR 5.80; 95% CI 2.78,12.1). HBsAg positivity was associated with African origin (AOR 2.74; 95% CI 1.20,6.26) and HCV seropositivity (AOR 6.44; 95% CI 3.08,13.5). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use was less likely in HIV/HCV-seropositive than in HIV-monoinfected women (AOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.20,0.58). HCV seropositivity was associated with a higher adjusted HIV RNA level (+0.28log10 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL vs. HIV-monoinfected women; P=0.03). HIV/HCV-seropositive women were twice as likely to have detectable HIV in the third trimester/delivery as HIV-monoinfected women (AOR 1.95; P=0.049). Conclusions Although HCV serostatus impacted on HAART use, the association between HCV seropositivity and uncontrolled HIV viraemia in late pregnancy was independent of HAART. [source]


Appendicitis in HIV-infected patients during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

HIV MEDICINE, Issue 6 2008
N Crum-Cianflone
Background Limited studies have suggested increased incidence rates and unusual clinical presentations of appendicitis among HIV-infected patients during the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. Data in the HAART era are sparse, and no study has evaluated potential HIV-related risk factors for the development of appendicitis. Methods We retrospectively studied 449 HIV-infected patients receiving care at a US Naval hospital involving 4750 person-years (PY) of follow-up. We also evaluated the rates of appendicitis among HIV-negative persons at our medical facility. We compared demographics, HIV-specific data, and HAART use in HIV-infected patients with and without appendicitis. Results Sixteen (3.6%) of 449 patients developed appendicitis after HIV seroconversion. The incidence rate was 337 cases/100 000 PY, more than fourfold higher than among HIV-negative persons. Eighty-eight per cent of cases among HIV-infected patients had an elevated white blood count at presentation, 39% were complicated, and 64% required hospitalization. HIV-infected patients with appendicitis compared with those who did not develop appendicitis were less likely to be receiving HAART (25 vs. 71%, P<0.001), had higher viral loads (3.5 vs. 1.7 log10 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, P=0.005), and were younger (median age of 30 vs. 41 years, P<0.002). In the multivariate model, receipt of HAART remained protective [odds ratio (OR) 0.21, P=0.012] for appendicitis, while younger age was positively associated (OR 1.08, P=0.048) with appendicitis. Conclusion Acute appendicitis occurs at higher incidence rates among HIV-infected patients compared with the general population. Our study demonstrates that the lack of HAART may be a risk factor for appendicitis among HIV-infected patients; further studies are needed. [source]


Increased serum lipids are associated with higher CD4 lymphocyte count in HIV-infected women

HIV MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006
M Floris-Moore
Objective Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been associated with dyslipidaemia; however, the roles of immune status and non-HIV-disease risk factors remain unclear. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of fasting lipids was carried out for 231 women, of whom 132 were HIV-infected and 99 were uninfected. The concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B (apo B) were measured. CD4 lymphocyte count, hepatitis C status, demographics, diet, and anthropometrics were also assessed. Results A total of 132 women were HIV-infected [30 were antiretroviral-naive, 68 were on protease inhibitors (PIs), and 34 were on non-PI HAART]. HIV infection was associated with higher triglycerides, lower HDL-C, and, among obese women, higher total cholesterol and LDL-C. Non-PI and PI HAART were each independently associated with higher total cholesterol, LDL-C, and apo B, compared with being ART-naive. Among HIV-infected women, after adjustment for HAART use, women with a CD4 lymphocyte count,500 cells/,L had total cholesterol 41.8 mg/dL (P=0.002) and LDL-C 28.8 mg/dL (P=0.01) higher, on average, than women with a CD4 count <200 cells/,L. Women with a CD4 count of 200,499 cells/,L had total cholesterol 26.31 mg/dL higher, on average, than those with a CD4 count <200 cells/,L (P=0.04), although differences in LDL-C did not reach significance (15.51 mg/dL; P=0.12). A higher CD4 count was also associated with higher apo B (P<0.001). Active hepatitis C infection was associated with lower total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and apo B. Conclusions Higher CD4 lymphocyte counts were associated with higher lipid levels, suggesting that immune competence may independently affect the dyslipidaemia seen in the HAART era. In addition, it is important that hepatitis C status be assessed in studies of dyslipidaemia in the HIV-infected population. [source]


The AmRo study: pregnancy outcome in HIV-1-infected women under effective highly active antiretroviral therapy and a policy of vaginal delivery

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
K Boer
Objective, To explore pregnancy outcome in HIV-1-positive and HIV-negative women, and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) according to mode of delivery under effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design, Cohort of 143 pregnant HIV-1-infected women including a matched case,control study in a 2:1 ratio of controls to cases (n = 98). Setting, Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam and Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Population, Consecutive referred HIV-1 infected pregnant women treated with HAART and matched control not infected pregnant women. Main outcome measures, MTCT, preterm delivery, low birthweight, pre-eclampsia. Results, MTCT was 0% (95% CI 0,2.1%). Seventy-eight percent of HIV-1-infected women commenced and 62% completed vaginal delivery. The calculated number of caesarean sections needed to prevent a single MTCT was 131 or more. Preterm delivery rates were 18% (95% CI 11,27) in women infected with HIV-1 and 9% (95% CI 5,13) in controls (P = 0.03). HAART used at <13 weeks of gestation was associated with a 44% preterm delivery rate compared with 21% when HAART was started at or after 13 weeks and 14% in controls. (Very) low birthweight and incidence of pre-eclampsia were not different between HIV-1 and controls. Conclusions, We have not demonstrated any MTCT after vaginal delivery in women effectively treated by HAART. The HAART-associated increase in preterm delivery rate is mainly seen after first trimester HAART use. [source]