Results from a recent Brazilian study indicate that anemia, or a low red blood cell count, is associated with a higher risk of death in people with HIV. The findings also show that low levels of other blood cells, such as platelets or immune cells, are associated with a more advanced HIV infection.

Based on their results, the researchers stated that treatment of anemia in people with HIV is critical. They also noted that anemia is a reliable indicator of the prognosis of HIV-positive patients.

Anemia, a condition in which…

Results from a recent study indicate that advances in antiretroviral therapy over the last 15 years have considerably improved outcomes for children with HIV who are entering adolescence and young adulthood.

The study found that most children with HIV maintain viral suppression and high CD4 (white blood) cell counts despite having had extensive treatment. Starting treatment earlier was more likely to result in better outcomes.

The researchers stated that their results support current U.S. treatment guidelines for initiating therapy at higher CD4 percentages in children.

Dr. Russell Van Dyke, co-author…

Results of a large study released this week indicate that starting antiretroviral treatment earlier (at a CD4 count of 500 cells per microliter of blood) decreases the risk of getting AIDS-related illnesses. However, it does not improve survival relative to starting treatment later, once CD4 counts have dropped further.

“If the goal is to prevent AIDS or death, then initiation when CD4 cell count first drops below 500 is beneficial. However, this same benefit is not seen for mortality: the 5-year survival was similar for those initiating combination antiretroviral therapy…

The majority of patients change or stop anti-HIV medications during the first five years of treatment, according to results of a recent study. However, a second study indicates that the use of fixed-dose combination medications reduces the probability of regimen switching and, in some cases, increases the probability of viral suppression during the first year of treatment.

The studies were presented at the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston earlier this month.

“In our data set, people receiving fixed-dose combinations seemed to be better at achieving…

The prognosis, or prospect of recovery, for HIV-positive and AIDS patients has improved tremendously over the past 20 years, but still depends on multiple factors. The most important include the patient’s access to HIV specialists and proper drug treatments.

At this time, there is still no cure for AIDS, but combinations of various drugs can slow down the virus’s progress, often allowing patients to live longer, healthier lives. The time to develop AIDS after HIV infection depends on the individual’s health status, behaviors, and how soon he or she seeks…