October 2002 Cover
|
 |
New treatment guidelines suggest symptom-free HIV patients can wait longer than previously recommended to begin taking AIDS drugs. The new guidelines appear in the July 10th
issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"The threshold for initiation of therapy has shifted to a later time in the course of HIV disease" because of increased awareness of the effectiveness of AIDS drugs and their
toxic side effects, the International AIDS Society-USA panel, concluded.
The panel recommends starting drug treatment when levels of the disease-fighting CD4 count drops to between 200 and 350/cubic millimeter. The drugs may be beneficial in
some patients with higher counts, but the risks in such patients generally outweigh the benefits, said the guidelines.
Editor's Note: from the Associated Press
You are not logged in.
No comments yet, but
click here to be the first to comment on this
HIV Digest!
|
