Health

Getting HIV treatment right early

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 17, 2005

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Testing for drug resistance in HIV-infected patients at the time of diagnosis is cost-effective and may increase patients' life expectancy, according to a study in the Nov. 1 Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

Resistance to antiretroviral therapy, even in patients who have never received treatment, is a growing concern. But testing for the presence of resistant genes is not standard procedure, probably because of its high cost and unproven benefit, researchers note.

This cost-effectiveness analysis, however, indicated that performing the resistance testing before treatment is begun can effectively guide a physician's choice of regimen and increase a patient's survival by more than 14 months compared with no resistance testing.

An accompanying editorial said the study provides sufficient evidence to recommend genotypic resistance testing in all drug-naïve patients at the time of diagnosis. But the authors cautioned that not all resistant mutations can be detected by standard tests.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/10/17/hlbf1017.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn