Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Is Common Among HIV Positive Women
 
More than half of almost 400 HIV-infected women surveyed reported using at least one complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a report in the November 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

"Physicians and health care professionals need to develop greater awareness of the high prevalence of CAM use among their patients and learn more about these therapies, their effectiveness, and potential side effects," Dr. Pauline E. Jolly from University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health told Reuters Health.

Dr. Jolly and colleagues collected data from 391 HIV-positive women between 18 and 50 years to evaluate the association between CAM use, demographic variables, and HIV clinical disease indicators. Most of the women were African American (84%).

About 60% of the women used at least one CAM, the authors report, including 36% who used vitamins, 27% who practiced religious healing, 22% who used dietary supplements, 16% who used herbs, and 10% who used yoga or other bodywork.

CAM users tended to be older, better educated and have no insurance coverage, compared with those who did not use CAM. The results also indicate that CAM use was significantly more common among women who had been infected with HIV for at least 4 years, compared with those infected for a shorter time.

Although CAM users experienced a higher number of infections than non-users, the researchers note, there was no association between CAM use and CD4+ T cell count, viral load, CDC categories, or Karnofsky scores.

"Patients should be encouraged to inform their physicians of their CAM use so that the physician can monitor and regulate CAM use for the ultimate well-being of the patient," Dr. Jolly concluded.

Dr. Jolly emphasized that certain CAM products have been associated with adverse interactions with HAART.

For example, St. John's wort studies have shown a potential interaction with the protease inhibitor (PI) indinavir (Crixivan) leading to significantly lowering of blood levels. Increased garlic intake may decrease the effectiveness of PI saquinavir (Invirase; Fortovase) and possibly other protease inhibitors (PI), she said. Also, milk thistle may decrease the effectiveness of PIs and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).

12/06/04

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2004;37:1415-1422.

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