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Results from a small European study have shown that a short course of omega-3 fatty acids significantly lowers triglyceride levels in people experiencing high triglyceride levels during antiretroviral therapy for HIV.

“Triglycerides are frequently raised, have health implications, and are easily managed with measures that can include a safe supplement such as Omacor/Lovaza (omega-3 acid ethyl esters),” said Dr. Barry Peters, head of the Academic Unit of HIV and STDs at King’s College London and lead author of the study.

According to Dr. Peters and his colleagues, the study results…

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As a result of two new studies confirming that antiretroviral therapy causes high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in HIV-positive children, potentially increasing their long-term risk of heart disease, experts have called for the establishment of guidelines to manage antiretroviral therapy-related high cholesterol levels in children with HIV.

“With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected children are expected to live well into adulthood. However, the increased cardiovascular [heart] disease risk associated with HIV and/or antiretroviral therapy presents new challenges and serious implications for quality of life and life expectancy for…

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Results of a small Australian study indicate that rates of abnormal fat distribution, called lipodystrophy, are dropping in people with HIV despite an aging population and longer treatment with antiretrovirals. However, the study also found that lipodystrophy remains a common problem, affecting more than half of study participants.

The researchers noted that the drop in lipodystrophy rates is likely due to lower smoking rates and the use of newer antiretrovirals that have less effect on patients’ metabolism.

The results were presented last week at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference…

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Three-Year Study Shows Anti-HIV Drug Reyataz Is As Effective In Women As In Men (IAS 2011) – Results of a study presented last week at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention (IAS 2011) indicate that Reyataz (atazanavir) is as effective in women as in men. The researchers examined the medical records of treatment-experienced HIV-positive adults (336 women, 958 men) who took Reyataz over a three-year period. Results showed that women were more likely to discontinue the drug than men but were not more likely to experience treatment failure. Side effects were similar between the two groups. For more information, please see the study abstract at the IAS 2011 conference website or the Bristol-Myers Squibb press release.

Kaletra Can Be Taken With Cholesterol Drug Livalo (IAS 2011) – Results from another study presented last week at IAS 2011 indicate that it is safe for people with HIV/AIDS to take Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) in combination with the cholesterol drug Livalo (pitavastatin). Based on the results of the trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated Livalo’s prescribing information last month to remove a warning about taking Livalo with Kaletra. The trial included 24 HIV-negative adults who took Kaletra plus Livalo for 24 days. Results showed that Kaletra and Livalo did not significantly affect one another’s levels in the blood. Changes of a drug’s levels in the blood can compromise its efficacy and safety. There were no additional side effects from taking the two drugs together. Kaletra still should not be taken with the cholesterol drugs Zocor (simvastatin) or lovastatin (Mevacor). For more information, please see the study abstract at the IAS 2011 conference website or the Kowa Pharmaceuticals press release.

Drugs For Neglected Diseases Initiative Launches New Program For Pediatric Antiretrovirals – The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), a Switzerland-based not-for-profit research organization, has announced the launch of a new program aimed at developing child-friendly formulations of antiretrovirals for HIV-positive children. The program will focus first on developing an improved protease inhibitor-based first-line regimen for children under three years old. Researchers will also work to determine appropriate dosages, safety profiles, and child-friendly formulations for several existing antiretrovirals. For more information, please see the DNDi press release.

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Results of a very small Italian study indicate that a half dose of Kaletra may be safe and effective for people with HIV who have not previously been treated with protease inhibitors. The study also found that the lower dose helped lower participants’ high triglyceride levels.

The authors did note that, consistent with results from an earlier study, the participants who started treatment at the lower dose had levels of Kaletra in the blood that were below the “minimum effective concentration,” which is the lowest amount of a drug in…