Daily news feed on HIV drug resistance-related topics
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Mutations conferring foscarnet resistance in a cohort of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and cytomegalovirus retinitis
Weinberg A, et al. J Infec Dis. 2003;187:777-784.
[http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v187n5/021039/brief/021039.abstract.html]
In a cohort of patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus, the authors found differing levels of foscarnet resistance mutations and genotypic resistance. The incidence of foscarnet resistance after six, nine and 12 months of therapy was 12%, 24% and 37%, respectively.
Significant levels of intracellular stavudine triphosphate are found in HIV-infected zidovudine-treated patients
Becher F, et al. AIDS. 2003; 17:555-561.
[http://ipsapp003.lwwonline.com/content/getfile/13/1070/11/abstract.htm]
In 31 patients receiving ZDV therapy as part of HAART, the authors found intracellular d4T-trisphosphate in varying concentrations, resulting from the transformation of ZDV into d4T-TP in PBMCs. The authors assert that this observation sheds new light on the cross-resistance observed between ZDV and d4T.
Transmission fitness of drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus and the prevalence of resistance in the antiretroviral-treated population
Brown AJL, et al. J Infec Dis. 2003;187:683-686.
[http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JID/journal/issues/v187n4/020934/brief/020934.abstract.html]
Using retrospective surveys of clinic data, the authors found that drug-resistant virus was transmitted from patients receiving antiretroviral therapy only approximately 20% as frequently as expected. The authors concluded that individuals with primary resistance may become a significant source of resistant strains.
Brief report: nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance among antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive pregnant women
Juethner SN, et al. JAIDS. 2003;32:153-156.
[http://ipsapp003.lwwonline.com/content/getfile/1960/111/6/abstract.htm]
A retrospective chart review revealed that three of 18 ART-naïve, HIV-positive pregnant patients in a St. Louis, MO, population had primary resistance to NNRTIs. According to the authors, resistance testing in ART-naïve pregnant patients in this community is warranted in order to guide the initial choice of therapy.
A new quantitative HIV load assay based on plasma virion reverse transcriptase activity for the different types, groups and subtypes
Braun J, et al. AIDS. 2003; 17(3):331-336.
[http://ipsapp003.lwwonline.com/content/getfile/13/1069/6/abstract.htm]
The authors found that a new, low-cost assay was effective in detecting reverse transcriptase activity in plasma samples infected with subtypes of HIV-1 group-M, HIV-1 group-O and HIV-2.
