WELLNESS STARTS WITH AWARENESS - CD8 T cells - The Body

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someone with a weakened immune
system. In writing for aidsmeds.com
(now a part of POZ magazine), advocate
David Evans reported that, “According
to Dr. [Henry] Masur, a lead author of
the guidelines, about one-third of people
who test positive for HIV in many
U.S. cities do so only aft er they already
have AIDS and require treatment for a
life-threatening [OI]—or are in immediate
danger of experiencing one. So
it can be misleading to consider HIV
and its related illnesses a thing of the
past.” Th is is the fi rst major update of
the guidelines in years, and a report
on the changes will be published in the
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). DC).
According to the introduction to
the guidelines, “Major ajor changes include:
(1) more emphasis on the importance of ART for prevention and
treatment of OIs, especially specially those for which which specifi c chemoprophylaxis
[prevention] and treatment do not exist; (2) information information on
diagnosis and management agement of immune reconstitution infl ammato- ammatory
syndromes (IRIS); S); (3) information on interferon-gamma release
assays (IGRAs) for r the detection
of latent Mycobactericobacterium tuberculosis infections; nfections;
(4) updated information mation on
drug interactions aff ecting use
of rifamycin drugs s for prevention
and treatment of tuberculosis uberculosis (TB); (5) the
addition of a section n on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection;
and (6) the addition ddition of a section on malaria to the OIs of
geographic interest.” .”
IRIS refers to the he fl are-up of various illnesses when a person’s
immune system improves, proves, aft er they go on HIV therapy. See Evan’s
interview with Dr. Masur. Find the guidelines at www.aidsinfo.org
or request a copy at 1-800-HIV-0440 (448-0440). Note: the guidelines
are more than 200 pages long.
Black people, genetics, and HIV
A study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe reported
that black people may be at greater risk of becoming infected
with HIV because of a gene mutation. Th e researchers believe the
mutation probably protected people in sub-Saharan Africa from a
18
type of malaria. Th e study results need
confi rmation, but tantalized advocates
of people with HIV. Previous reports
from other researchers have found that
African Americans have a higher rate
of infection without a higher rate of
risky behavior. Although several socioeconomic
risk factors, such as lack of
access to health care, have been cited
in the higher infection rate, advocates
have raised questions about possible
biological mechanisms for the discrepancy.
See the July 17 report of the Kaiser
Daily HIV/AIDS Report at www.kaisernetwork.org.
It includes a round-up of
newspaper reports on the fi ndings. ndings.
Roche suspends
HIV drug
development
Roche Pharmaceuticals,
Pharma uticals,
the manufacturer of the HIV drugs d ugsInviraseand
Invirase and
Fuzeon, announced that it will stop development
work on new drugs against the vvirus.
Th e company
reported that its drugs in development develo do not have
the promise of signifi cant improvement impr over cur-
rent medications medications on the marke market. Roche has spent
years working on a CCR5 antag antagonist and a reverse
transcriptase inhibitor. Offi cials
at Roche stated that
they remain committed to external extern HIV drug devel-
opment, as well well as internal and external e HCV (hepatitis
atitis C virus) drug development developmen and reseach, and
have a promising pipeline of
HCV drugs. See a
company statement to the th HIV community
at www.positivelyaware.com. www.positive
e
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PA • September / October 2008 • tpan.com • positivelyaware.com
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