AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, August 18, 2003
Staff Medical Writers

A study published in the August 15, 2003, issue of AIDS reports that patients treated with HAART - highly active antiretroviral therapy - survived at least 22 months, compared with a median of 29 days for those who didn't take the prescription drug regimen.

"Traditionally, patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma have a very poor prognosis with a survival of only a few weeks to months after diagnosis," said Dr. Daniel Skiest, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and the study's senior author.

Skiest, also the associate chief for clinical infectious diseases at UT Southwestern, reviewed records of AIDS patients diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma at Parkland Memorial Hospital - a 990-bed hospital serving Dallas County which is the primary teaching institution of Southwestern Medical School - between 1995 and 2001 to determine the effects of HAART on survival rates.

During the 6-year study, 25 patients were identified. Of those, 19 were definite cases of CNS lymphoma and 6 were probable cases. Six of seven patients treated with HAART survived at least 1 year and 10 months after diagnosis. The 18 who did not receive the therapy all died.

Of those who died, patients who received radiation therapy lived longer. Eleven patients who received neither HAART nor radiation had a median survival of only 29 days.

"While HAART has led to much better outcomes in many AIDS-related complications, it has not been clear whether there is a benefit of HAART in patients with primary CNS lymphoma," Skiest said. "Ours is only the second series to demonstrate a significant survival benefit. It is not yet clear whether the survival benefit is related to prevention of other AIDS-related complications or to the immune restoration induced by HAART resulting in improved host control of the lymphoma."

The other author of the paper is Craig Crosby, a clinical data specialist in UT Southwestern's department of internal medicine.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Skiest DJ, Crosby C. "Survival is prolonged by highly active antiretroviral therapy in AIDS patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma", AIDS. 2003 Aug 15;17(12):1787-93.

PubMED Related articles Search

030818
AW030809

Copyright © 2003 - Charles Henderson, Publisher. All rights Reserved. Permission to reproduce granted to AEGIS by Charles W. Henderson. Authorization to reproduce for personal use granted granted by C. W. Henderson, Publisher, provided that the fee of US$4.50 per copy, per page is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970, USA. Published by Charles Henderson, Publisher. Editorial & Publishing Office: P.O. Box 5528, Atlanta, GA 30307-0528 / Telephone: (800) 633-4931; Subscription Office: P.O. Box 830409, Birmingham, AL 35283-0409 / FAX: (205) 995-1588 http://www.newsrx.net

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, iMetrikus, Inc., the National Library of Medicine, 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.