Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
|
|
New York Times (10.10.06) - Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Lawrence K. Altman
"It's the first formal way to track HIV/AIDS treatments and outcomes on a broad, comprehensive scale and in real time," said Dr. Michael Saag, leader of the University of Alabama- Birmingham (UAB)-based project.
Typical clinical AIDS drug trials restrict participants who have other illnesses and are often short-term evaluations lasting weeks or months. To refine and improve patients' treatment options, researchers need more data that accurately reflect the patient population. "Just when we think we know that what we are doing is right, we get surprised" by unintended treatment complications, said Saag.
Treatment complications can include lipodystrophy, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Treatment complications and treatment-complicating ailments will be researchable by an expanded treatment outcomes database.
Safeguards will ensure patients' identities remain confidential. Besides therapy, the databases will include information about patient symptoms, body image, adherence, and lab tests. The data could be used in basic analyses of disease progression, difficult-to-Detect illnesses including mental health problems, and to extrapolate the best treatment options for a patient.
Chosen for their existing, accurate treatment databases, participating centers are UAB, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland; Harvard University in Boston; Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; the Universities of California in San Diego and San Francisco; and the University of Washington- Seattle. The grant can accommodate up to five additional centers.
061010
AD061898
Copyright © 2006 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.