Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle (11.05.09) - Thursday, November 12, 2009
Victoria Colliver
"Currently, we don't have a truly accurate measure of how well people are taking their medications and how well they process drugs," said Dr. Albert Liu, director of HIV prevention intervention studies at SFDPH. Blood tests can measure the presence of HIV drugs in the short-term but not over time, he said.
Hair can be used for longer-term studies of adherence because drug molecules bind to pigment in the hair, Liu said. Hair also can assist in human HIV chemoprophylaxis studies, determining whether results are influenced by regimen adherence.
The National Institute of Mental Health is funding the Strand Study, which is seeking 24 HIV-negative adult men and women with dark hair. Darker hair has higher levels of pigment to which drug molecules bind, so measuring HIV drug levels in dark hair can be performed more easily, Liu said.
Volunteers will be paid up to $1,300 to take three varying doses of tenofovir over six weeks: one pill twice weekly, four times weekly and every day. Tenofovir was chosen because it has fewer side effects and has a good safety profile, said Liu. The pill-taking has to be directly observed either at UCSF or at SFDPH's Van Ness Avenue offices. The study, which researchers hope to launch in the next couple of months, also involves one 24-hour hospital stay to measure blood levels.
For more information, visit www.helpfighthiv.org.
091112
AD091945
Copyright © 2009 - 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 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2009. 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, 2009. 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.
.