Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 11, 2008 11:27:21 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

AIDS Drug May Raise Risk of Heart Attack

Posted Apr 2, 08 6:52 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – Patients who use an important and widely used AIDS drug have twice the risk of heart attacks, a new study shows. Abacavir is a major component in the so-called "drug cocktails" used to control HIV. "This is a head-scratcher, in the sense that we don't really understand the biology here," one expert told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The FDA is now reviewing whether to restrict abacavir, though the agency stressed that there's no proof the drug caused the increased risk. Many patients taking it have other health problems that muddy the results, the Chronicle notes. At least one leading doctor says he'd be reluctant to tell patients to switch until the findings are sussed out.

Source San Francisco Chronicle

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • New HIV Study Shows Disease Accelerating

    Sep 12, 08 7:58 AM CDT
    New HIV Study Shows Disease Accelerating A new CDC study of Americans with HIV conducted with new technology shows that the virus is spreading faster than previously thought, reports the New York Times. In 2006, more than 56,000 were newly infected with the virus that causes AIDS—40% more than anticipated. The study also showed that whites and blacks tend to contract the virus at different times in their lives.
    More »

  • HIV Rates Rise for Gays, Ignored by World Programs

    Aug 10, 08 6:21 AM CDT
    HIV Rates Rise for Gays, Ignored by World Programs Even as fewer people are dying from AIDS, new HIV infections continue to rise at alarming rates among the global gay and bisexual population, who are tageted by less than 1% of the $669 million spent on prevention worldwide, AP reports. In 86 nations, homosexual sex is considered a crime, and in seven countries it's punishable by death, according to the Foundation for AIDS Research, More »

  • A Pill a Day Could Keep HIV Away

    Aug 4, 08 7:24 AM CDT
    A Pill a Day Could Keep HIV Away With 2.7 million people contracting HIV every year, the race is on to test the efficacy of a daily pill meant to prevent the virus, the New York Times reports. After recent unimpressive results in tests of vaccines and microbicides, the PrEP drugs are now some scientists’ leading hope for stopping infection before it starts.

    More »

  • Gene Raises AIDS Risk in Africa

    Jul 16, 08 10:14 PM CDT
    Gene Raises AIDS Risk in Africa A gene extremely common among Africans but almost unknown other ethnic groups may be rendering people of sub-Saharan Africa more susceptible to HIV and AIDS, the Times of London reports. The gene variant—common because it provides malaria protection—makes carriers 40% more likely to contract HIV and could be responsible for 11%, or 2.5 million, of the AIDS cases in Africa, the continent hardest hit by the disease. More »

  • Senate Targets Ban on HIV- Positive Visitors

    Jul 16, 08 4:31 PM CDT
    Senate Targets Ban on HIV- Positive Visitors The Senate moved today to repeal a ban on allowing immigrants and vistors who are HIV-positive to enter the country, the AP reports. The measure was part of a $50 billion bill to combat AIDS worldwide. The US is one of only a dozen countries—including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Libya—that forbids the entry of visitors with AIDS. More »

The FDA is deciding whether to take action because of the new findings.   ((c) mararie)
Abacavir has been linked to a rise in heart attacks among patients.
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

heart attack  • AIDS  • HIV  • drug cocktail


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »