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HIV/AIDS Epidemiology & Mortality

HIV+ Smokers on Antiretroviral Treatment Lose More Years to Smoking than to Virus

Researchers in Denmark, where antiretroviral therapy (ART) is free and widely used, found that HIVpositive smokers tripled their risk of death, and mortality associated with tobacco use was greater for people with HIV than for the general population, according to a study published in the December 18, 2012, advance edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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Liver Toxicity Uncommon with Modern Antiretroviral Drugs, but Higher Risk for HIV/HCV Coinfected

Recently approved antiretroviral drugs are generally well-tolerated and seldom cause serious liver enzyme elevations, although protease inhibitors are somewhat more likely to do so, researchers reported in the November 28, 2012, advance online edition of AIDS. People with HIV/HCV coinfection are more likely to experience liver toxicity, however, and early hepatitis C treatment may improve the tolerability of HIV therapy.alt

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HIV11: New Studies Challenge Evidence of Reduced Abacavir Potency When Viral Load Is High

An analysis of 2 studies of the new HIV integrase inhibitor dolutegravir presented at the 11th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection this month in Glasgow had the incidental effect of bringing into question evidence from a previous study suggesting that the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor abacavir (Ziagen, also in the Epzicom or Kivexa coformulation) was less potent in people starting HIV therapy with high viral loads than another NRTI drug, tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild coformulations). alt

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Young Adults Account for One-quarter of New U.S. HIV Cases, Majority Not Aware of Status

Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 13 and 24 account for 26% of new annual HIV infections in the U.S. -- with young gay/bisexual men and African-Americans most heavily affected -- but 60% do not know they are HIV positive, according to the latest Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). alt

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HIV11: Life Expectancy in Older People with HIV Could Exceed the Average - As Long As ART Keeps Working

The latest forecasts of life expectancy in people with HIV in the U.K., based on mortality data from the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) study, show that the average life expectancy of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a CD4 count over 350 cells/mm3 is now very close to the national average, the 11th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection in Glasgow heard last week. alt

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