Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters - December 18, 2003
The risk appears to relate specifically to protease inhibitor drugs, such as Crixivan or Viracept. Thus, the study's investigators suggest in the medical journal AIDS that clinicians may want to consider patients' cardiovascular disease risk factors when making decisions about treatment with protease inhibitors.
Dr. Murielle Mary-Krause and her team in Paris looked at data collected on nearly 35,000 men with HIV infection. Sixty subjects had a heart attack between 1996 and 1999, including 49 that occurred in patients treated with protease inhibitors.
The estimated rate of heart attacks was 8.2 occurrences per 10,000 persons annually for those treated with a protease inhibitor for less than 18 months. The rate nearly doubled to 15.9 for those treated for 18 to 29 months, and doubled again to 33.8 among those treated for 30 months or more.
By comparison, the expected heart attack rate in the general male population of similar ages is 10.8 per 10,000 person-years.
The researchers caution that the increased life expectancy gained with potent anti-HIV therapy far outweighs the risk of having a heart attack. Nonetheless, they advise that treatment decisions should take into account risk factors for heart disease, which should be determined prior to and throughout treatment.
"It seems prudent to at least consider individually managing patients with respect to their risk of developing coronary artery disease," Dr. Peter Reiss, of the University of Amsterdam, suggests in an accompanying editorial. He recommends that physicians encourage HIV patients to quit smoking and to modify their diet and exercise habits appropriately.
031218
RE031218
Copyright © 2003 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
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 2003. 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, 2003. 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. .