by B.J. Caldwell, Educator

CATIE's most recent treatment update (pdf) includes the following:

1. Helping CD4 cells block HIV by altering a patients genes
2. Comparing efavirenz to raltegravir
3. Long term HAART and Bone Health
4. Making sense of changes on bone density
5. Alberta study finds higher death rates among HIV+ Aboriginal HAART users

The section on the genetic altering of  a person's own CD4 cells to become (more) resistant to HIV is fascinating and I have blogged about this recently (and there will be another post or two on the topic, soon)

Bone health and the role of HIV drugs has long been a point of interest to many HIV+ people and phsyicians/researchers. New studies highlight some of these changes and make it obvious that we still have a lot to learn.

The Alberta study showing a statistically significant difference in death rates and highlights another glaring hole in our understanding of the factors that play a role in this. It also highlights the issues faced by HIV+ people who also use injection drugs and gives some theories as to why this problem is occurring.