Scientists at Johns Hopkins University, Medical Department publish new data on HIV/AIDS

Return to AIDS/HIV Alert Section

February 23rd, 2009

   2009 FEB 23 -- According to recent research from the United States, "The frequency of HIV dementia in a recent study of HIV + individuals at the Infectious Disease Institute in Kampala, Uganda, was 31%. Coformulated generic drugs, which include stavudine, are the most common regimens to treat HIV infection in Uganda and many other parts of Africa."

   "To evaluate the benefits and risks of stavudine-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV-associated cognitive impairment and distal sensory neuropathy. The study compared neuropsychological performance changes in HIV + individuals initiating HAART for 6 months and HIV + individuals receiving no treatment for 6 months. The risk of antiretroviral toxic neuropathy as a result of the initiation of stavudine-based HAART was also examined. At baseline, 102 HIV + individuals in Uganda received neurologic, neuropsychological, and functional assessments; began HAART; and were followed up for 6 months. Twenty-five HIV-individuals received identical clinical assessments and were followed up for 6 months. In HIV + individuals, there was improvement in verbal memory, motor and psychomotor speed, executive thinking, and verbal fluency. After adjusting for differences in sex, HIV + individuals demonstrated significant improvement in the Color Trails 2 test (p = 0.025) compared with HIV-individuals. Symptoms of neuropathy developed in 38% of previously asymptomatic HIV + patients after initiation of the stavudine-based HAART. After the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including stavudine, HIV + individuals with cognitive impairment improve significantly as demonstrated by improved performance on a test of executive function. However, peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in 30 patients, presumably because of stavudine-based HAART, suggesting the need for less toxic therapy," wrote N. Sacktor and colleagues, Johns Hopkins University, Medical Department.

   The researchers concluded: "Neurology (R) 2009; 72:165-170'."

   Sacktor and colleagues published their study in Neurology (Benefits and risks of stavudine therapy for HIV-associated neurologic complications in Uganda. Neurology, 2009;72(2):165-170).

   For additional information, contact N. Sacktor, Johns Hopkins University, School Medical, Dept. of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Med Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, B Bldg Rm 123, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.

   Publisher contact information for the journal Neurology is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

   Keywords: United States, Baltimore, HIV/AIDS, AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Antivirals, Central Nervous System Disease, Dementia, Drugs, HAART, HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Neurological Disorder, Neurology, Neuropathy, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Pharmaceuticals, Stavudine, Therapy, Treatment, Urology, Virology, Johns Hopkins University, Medical Department.

   This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.

Return to AIDS/HIV Alert Section