NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Although certain genetic polymorphisms can slow the progress of HIV infection, their contribution is apparently eclipsed by the action of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), researchers report in the September 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Lead investigator Dr. Barbara Weiser told Reuters Health that the findings suggest “that the effects of the CCR2 genotype--or CCR2 mutation, or V64I polymorphism, depending on the terms you use - are overshadowed by the power of HAART to delay or reverse HIV disease progression.”
Dr. Weiser of Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York and colleagues came to this conclusion after a study initially involving 2047 HIV infected and 559 uninfected women.
Ultimately the researchers established that the relevant polymorphisms neither protected against HIV infection nor altered the response to HAART.
The team points out that other studies showing that polymorphisms had a protective effect “were conducted before the era of widespread HAART use or were performed in countries where antiretroviral therapy is not readily available.”
Source: Clin Infect Dis 2004;39:861-865. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Anti-HIV AgentsCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
