Treating HIV Is the Easy Part
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Antiretroviral Rounds
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How do you manage a potential change in HIV treatment when the patient's problem list also includes HCV infection, cirrhosis, obesity, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression?
New HCV Treatment Paradigms — Now Also for Patients with HIV
In a preliminary analysis presented at CROI 2011, the addition of telaprevir to standard HCV regimens was tolerable and associated with a remarkable improvement in coinfected patients.
Triple Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Adding boceprevir to standard peginterferon and ribavirin therapy dramatically improved sustained virologic response.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 30, 2011
Covering:
Poordad F et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1195
Bacon BR et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1207
Jensen DM., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1272
Hepatitis B in the U.S.
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Rates of immunity are higher among children than adults.
Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus from Blood Donors with Occult Infection?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Occult HBV infection was uncommon among blood donors in Hong Kong, and HBV transmission from donors with such infection was relatively rare.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
March 23, 2011
Covering:
Yuen M-F et al., Clin Infect Dis 2011 Mar 1; 52:624
Rifaximin for Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Rifaximin improved short-term cognitive functioning and quality of life in MHE patients.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 11, 2011
Covering:
Sidhu SS et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2011 Feb; 106:307
Bajaj JS et al., Gastroenterology 2011 Feb; 140:478
Is Liver Biopsy Necessary to Diagnose Autoimmune Hepatitis?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
The contribution of histologic data to the determination of AIH status is minimal.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 11, 2011
Covering:
Björnsson E et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011 Jan; 9:57
Hepatitis B in the U.S., 1999–2008
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The rates of HBV exposure and chronic infection were significantly lower in 1999–2008 than in 1988–1994; 2-year-olds had higher immunity rates than adults.
HCV Infection in HIV-Positive MSM
In HIV-positive men who have sex with men, HCV acquisition is not uncommon and is often due to sexual exposure.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
February 28, 2011
Covering:
Tayor LE et al., Clin Infect Dis 2011 Jan 31
Matthews GV et al., Clin Infect Dis 2011 Jan 31
The European AIDS Treatment Network (NEAT) Acute Hepatitis C Infection Consensus Panel., AIDS 2011 Feb 20; 25:399
Disentangling the HIV and HCV Epidemics
The incidence of HIV infection declined significantly among urban drug users, but the incidence of HCV infection did not.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 28, 2011
Covering:
Mehta SH et al., J Infect Dis 2011 Mar 1; 203:587
Liver Cancer Screening in Patients with HCV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Few U.S. veterans with hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis received recommended surveillance.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 25, 2011
Covering:
Davila JA et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Jan 18; 154:85
Tenofovir for HIV and Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Long-term use of tenofovir as part of antiretroviral therapy was safe and effective in reducing HBV DNA levels.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 18, 2011
Covering:
de Vries-Sluijs TEMS et al., Gastroenterology 2010 Dec; 139:1934
Not So Fast: Hepatitis B Vaccination in HIV-Infected Patients
An accelerated vaccination schedule improves compliance but sacrifices efficacy in those with CD4 counts <500 cells/mm3 .
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
February 14, 2011
Covering:
de Vries-Sluijs TEMS et al., J Infect Dis 2011 Jan 25
Tests for Wilson Disease in Asymptomatic Children
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Measuring serum ceruloplasmin concentration was confirmed as an adequate initial diagnostic test.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 11, 2011
Covering:
Nicastro E et al., Hepatology 2010 Dec; 52:1948
Treatment-Induced Anemia in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Variants of the ITPA gene were associated with reduced ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia but not sustained virologic response.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 4, 2011
Covering:
Thompson AJ et al., Gastroenterology 2010 Oct; 139:1181
Peginterferon, Adefovir, or Both for Chronic Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
A 48-week regimen of peginterferon alfa-2a achieved HDV RNA clearance in more than 25% of patients, whereas adefovir had no effect.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 4, 2011
Covering:
Wedemeyer H et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jan 27; 364:322
Can We Improve Blood Donor Screening for Hepatitis B?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Nucleic acid testing performed on 3.7 million blood donations detected 9 seronegative HBV DNA–positive samples.
Liver Biopsy Complications
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Serious complications — most often, bleeding — occurred in only 1% of patients with hepatitis C virus infection and advanced fibrosis.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
January 14, 2011
Covering:
Seeff LB et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2010 Oct; 8:877
Pegylated Interferon-Lambda for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
In a phase Ib study, PEG-IFN-
Treatment Response in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus–Related Cirrhosis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Patients who achieved sustained virologic response had increased likelihood of event-free and overall survival.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
December 22, 2010
Covering:
Fernández-Rodríguez CM et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2010 Oct; 105:2164
Budesonide for Autoimmune Hepatitis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Budesonide was superior to prednisone at inducing remission with fewer steroid-specific adverse effects.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
December 17, 2010
Covering:
Manns MP et al., Gastroenterology 2010 Oct; 139:1198
Taribavirin vs. Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Virologic response rates were similar with both regimens; anemia was less common with taribavirin.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
December 17, 2010
Covering:
Poordad F et al., Hepatology 2010 Oct; 52:1208
An Interferon-Free Regimen for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Combining a protease inhibitor and a polymerase inhibitor led to declines in viral load, even among patients with previous treatment failure.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
November 19, 2010
Covering:
Gane EJ et al., Lancet 2010 Oct 30; 376:1467
A Promising First Step for Combination Oral Therapy Against HCV
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In a short-term study, use of a protease inhibitor and a polymerase inhibitor together rapidly lowered HCV RNA levels.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
November 17, 2010
Covering:
Gane EJ et al., Lancet 2010 Oct 30; 376:1467
Thomas DL., Lancet 2010 Oct 30; 376:1441
Hepatitis A in the U.S.
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
International travel was the predominant risk factor for infection.
By Larry M. Baddour, MD
November 10, 2010
Covering:
Klevens RM et al., Arch Intern Med 2010 Nov 8; 170:1811
Andersson KL et al., Arch Intern Med 2010 Nov 8; 170:1818
