Increased risk of abdominal wall hernia associated with combination anti-retroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients-results from a Swedish cohort-study.

Purpose: To determine if anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients is associated with an increased risk for development of abdominal wall hernia.

Methods: A cohort study of 1072 HIV-infected patients in Sweden. Information was collected by questionnaires to patients and treating physicians, chart reviews by study physicians and regular blood tests for metabolic disorders.

Predictors of hypertension and changes of blood pressure in HIV-infected patients.

Objective: We assessed predictors of changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure during follow-up and of the development of hypertension in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: International cohort collaborative study (D:A:D) of established prospective cohorts of HIV-1-infected patients. Longitudinal analysis of changes in blood pressure (BP) was performed using mixed effects models in 17170 patients.

Combination antiretroviral therapy and the risk of myocardial infarction.

Background: It remains controversial whether exposure to combination antiretroviral treatment increases the risk of myocardial infarction.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we enrolled 23,468 patients from 11 previously established cohorts from December 1999 to April 2001 and collected follow-up data until February 2002. Data were collected on infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and on risk factors for and the incidence of myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in HIV patients--association with antiretroviral therapy. Results from the DAD study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among HIV-infected persons, and to investigate any association between such risk factors, stage of HIV disease, and use of antiretroviral therapies.

Design: Baseline data from 17,852 subjects enrolled in DAD, a prospective multinational cohort study initiated in 1999.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of CVD risk factors at baseline.

Antiretroviral treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection: Swedish recommendations.

The Swedish guidelines (SwG) for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have several important roles. A major task involves the promotion of a uniformly high standard of care in all HIV treatment clinics in Sweden and the identification of strengths, weaknesses and relevance of recent research findings. CD4+ T-cell counts < 200 cells/microl are clear indications for the initiation of treatment, whereas high viral loads serve as an indication for increased vigilance rather than a criterion for therapy.