A recent study published in the September 22 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine by researchers from Stanford found that administering CD4 tests extends life of patients by more than one year and saves health care costs. The study is based on HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa.
The CD4 test measures the number of CD4: crucial, disease-fighting cells of the immune system. CD4 cells are targeted by the AIDS virus and, as their numbers decline, patients become more prone to developing life-threatening infections. The CD4 test is simple and quick to administer and may require only a simple finger prick to obtain blood that is then analyzed in a cell-sorter.
In the study, researchers used a mathematical model to simulate different patient scenarios and analyze the costs and benefits of using these different methods to track the patients' disease. The model was based on data from two groups of patients in Capetown, South Africa, though the analysis takes into account the regional differences across southern Africa. The researchers evaluated patients who were followed based on symptoms alone, as well as those who received either one or both of these tests during the course of their treatment. The scientists then calculated the relative costs of each of these strategies.
They found that patientswho received a CD4 test alone lived 11.8 months longer than those who were monitored on the basis of their symptoms alone. Patients fared best when given the test and then started on therapy early-when their CD4 cells numbered 350, rather than waiting until they fell to 200.
Patients in the early treatment group had 18 percent fewer opportunistic infections and were less likely to be hospitalized. The cost savings per patient amounted to $417, compared with those who were monitored on the basis of symptoms alone, the researchers reported.
This study is available here.
Here is a video from Youtube having clippings from President Clinton's speech at AIDS 2008 conference, concluded last week in Mexico City.
President Bush today signed legislation to re-authorize PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief which increases funding from $15 billion up to $48 billion over the next five years. As a result, PEPFAR will save five to seven million lives over the next five years. PEPFAR will continue to prioritize lifesaving treatment through a requirement in the legislation that more than half of the funds be spent on medical care and lifesaving antiretroviral treatment.
PEPFAR was the result of President Bush's 2003 State of the Union pledge to bring two million HIV positive Africans and others into treatment and prevent seven million new HIV infections via a five-year, $15 billion US-funded program. It currently operates in 15 focus countries and claims to support antiretroviral treatment for 1.4 million people worldwide.
An interesting article I read in San Francisco Chronicle (available here discusses how a gene variant which provides malarial resistance may be the reason for higher HIV rate amongst black population.
The study by a team based in London and Texas discusses that the Duffy protein which is attached by the malaria parasite before it infects the body. Significant population amongst the blacks lack the Duffy protein making them resistant to malarial infection. However, the Duffy protein also absorbs the HIV virus offering a resistance to HIV infection, this making those which lack the Duffy protein more prone to HIV infection. The researchers also found that people who exhibit the mutation lacking Duffy protein have prolonged survival in the face of HIV infection. Interesting read.
Facebook has a profile for the XVII AIDS conference to be geld in Mexico City in August. They also have a promotional video for his event. There are 80 members part of this group. Facebook would be a nice way for conference attendees to get to know each other in advance. Check it out !!!
At AIDSResearcher.org we are trying to unify researchers for different fields who are pursuing research related to HIV/AIDS. One of the most prominent research areas is in vaccination. We would like to invite bloggers who can provide updates in this field. Some very important and interesting links regarding HIV vaccination are as follows:
International AIDS Vaccination Initiative
HIV Vaccine Trials Network
MSNBC Report on Merck Vaccine failure
Please do post other intersting links as comments to this post, and I will incorporate them in this blog.
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A recent study, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, patients who take the widely prescribed AIDS drug abacavir run nearly double the risk of heart attack compared with those who take other antiviral medications. The study was conducted in United States, Europe, and Australia.
At the moment the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States is investigating this issue, and does not have any advisor regarding the use of this drug.
The rport is available here.
Welcome to AIDS Research. We hope to develop this into a community with focussed discussions and blogs on a variety of topics in AIDS/HIV research. Please develop this into a vibrant community of research and encourage your colleagues to participate. In the meanwhile we will try to make improvements to the infrastructure of this website. We are currently using Apache Roller 4.0 developed by the Apache Open source community. As an when we deploy new features, we will announce it through this forum. Happy blogging.