Treatment News

Compiled by Gus Cairns

…but good news for heart attacks

Other research, however, in contrast to the news on abacavir (see above), has produced good news on heart attacks. In one study, Dr Caroline Sabin of Royal Free and University College Medical School found that the risk of heart attack in patients on HIV treatment initially increased up to 2001, when the rate was now was one case in 233 patients per year, but then fell to one case in 450 a year by 2006. Dr Sabin put the reduction down to the efficient use of prevention measured such as cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Meanwhile Dr Sam Bozzette of the US Veterans Healthcare System similarly found that – in contrast to D:A:D’s findings – the risk of heart attack in his male, ex-forces patients actually went down the longer they were on HIV drugs, if increasing age and any family history of heart problems were factored out.

Not all heart meds can be used with HIV drugs. The cholesterol-lowering drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin cannot be used and atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) with great care. Protease inhibitors tend to raise levels of these statins in the blood, while efavirenz can lower them. Pravastatin (Lipostat) is the one used most often with HIV patients as it has the least drug interactions.

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