Aging and HIV infection: a comparison between older HIV-infected persons and the general population.

Background: As HIV-infected persons age, the relative contribution of HIV infection, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), and the normal aging process to the frequent comorbidities is unknown.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated comorbidities, cardiovascular risk, cognitive function, and anthropomorphic and laboratory parameters of HIV-infected persons aged 50 years and over in two US urban clinics. Results were compared to controls from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) matched 1:1 by age, race, gender, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI).

Metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients from an urban, midwestern US outpatient population.

Background: The association between the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study of the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease among patients from an urban outpatient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinic. Evaluation included laboratory data that were obtained after an overnight fast and a health survey that assessed traditional risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, HIV-related factors, and comorbidities.

Intermittent episodes of detectable HIV viremia in patients receiving nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based or protease inhibitor-based highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens are equivalent in incidence and prognosis.

Background: Intermittent episodes of detectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viremia (hereafter referred to as "blips") are generally not predictive of subsequent virologic failure. Limited data are available for patients treated with nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study evaluated patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy who were followed for > or =12 months, achieved an HIV RNA load of <50 copies/mL, and underwent evaluation every 2-3 months.

Undetectable plasma HIV RNA load predicts success after hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-infected persons.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients respond poorly to hepatitis B vaccination. Records of 194 HIV-infected patients were reviewed for factors associated with successful hepatitis B vaccination. Thirty-four patients (17.

Tolerance of efavirenz-induced central nervous system side effects in HIV-infected individuals with a history of substance abuse.

Purpose: There is no published data looking at tolerance of efavirenz (EFV) in patients who abuse cocaine or alcohol (EtOH). The objective of this study was to determine whether individuals with a current or past history of cocaine or EtOH abuse are more likely to experience EFV-induced central nervous system (CNS) side effects that warrant discontinuation of EFV compared with those who do not abuse substances.

Method: Retrospective chart review of all patients who received a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) at an inner city Ryan White Title III-supported health clinic during 1992-2001.

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance among antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive pregnant women.

From 1999 to 2001, the overall prevalence of resistance in the antiretroviral (ART)-naive population in St. Louis, Missouri, was 17%. We sought to determine if resistance testing in ART-naive HIV-positive pregnant women identified resistant mutations, which would modify our initial choice of therapy.