Results from a recent study indicate that the rate of HIV-associated neuropathy in women may be lower than previously thought but higher in African-American women than in women of other races.

Over a third of the HIV-positive women in the study had neuropathy. African-American women were about two thirds more likely to have neuropathy than women of other races.

“Why neuropathy is more prevalent [in African-American women] is unclear, and there is little data on any association between neuropathy and…

Results from a British study of HIV-positive men who have sex with men estimated a life expectancy of 75 years if HIV is diagnosed early, compared with 82 years for individuals without HIV. If HIV is diagnosed late, the researchers estimated life expectancy at 71.5 years.

The study authors noted that the decrease in life expectancy for HIV-positive men is comparable to the effect of cigarette smoking or having a chronic disease like diabetes.

“Men who have sex with men…

Results from a recent study suggest that HIV-positive men with prostate cancer have similar treatment outcomes and side effects as men without HIV when treated with radiation.

However, the study authors also found that greater viral loads may predict decreased treatment efficacy.

Based on their results, the authors stated that plans for radiation therapy and the prescribed doses used do not necessarily need to be altered for HIV-positive men with prostate cancer.

In men, prostate cancer is the third most…

Results from a recent small Swiss study suggest that immediate antiretroviral treatment can help reduce the size of latent HIV reservoirs and the viral load setpoint, the point at which the amount of HIV in the blood naturally levels off. However, the researchers also found that the reductions were negligible after three years.

The results suggest that effects of early treatment on the size of the latent HIV reservoir, and therefore the viral setpoint, may only be temporary. They also…

Results from a recent small Italian study indicate that exposure to antiretroviral drugs, including Viread, during pregnancy does not affect fetal bone metabolism and bone development.

“Antiretroviral therapy taken during pregnancy is not detrimental to bone development and bone health of the fetus/infant. Due to the awareness about the numerous side effects of antiretrovirals, we wanted to verify the safety for the fetus of the therapy,” said Dr. Stefano Mora from the Laboratory of Pediatric Endocrinology at the San Raffaele…