Category Archives: Treatment
Visual analogue scale (VAS) measurement of antiretroviral adherence in people living with HIV (PLWH): A meta-analysis
Effective treatment of HIV hinges upon maintaining adequate antiretroviral therapy adherence. Accurate, cost-effective measurement of medication adherence is needed to best respond to the HIV pandemic. The visual analogue scale...
Dolutegravir plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors versus efavirenz plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors as initial antiretroviral therapy for people with HIV: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir (DTG) is a once-daily unboosted second-generation integrase-inhibitor that along with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is one of several regimens recommended by the United States, United Kingdom and...
A systematic review of interventions to improve postpartum retention of women in PMTCT and ART care
INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization recommends lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV. Effective transitioning from maternal and child health to ART services, and...
Mental disorders in HIV/HCV coinfected patients under antiviral treatment for hepatitis C
This paper aims to review the epidemiology and management of mental disorders in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients, the need for antiviral therapy in this specific...
Review of functional MRI in HIV: Effects of aging and medication
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a frequently occurring comorbidity of HIV infection. Evidence suggests this condition starts subclinical before a progression to a symptomatic stage. Blood oxygenated level dependent (BOLD)...
The impact of criminalization of HIV non-disclosure on the healthcare engagement of women living with HIV in Canada: A comprehensive review of the evidence
INTRODUCTION: In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that people living with HIV (PLWH) must disclose their HIV status to sexual partners prior to sexual activity that poses a...
Atazanavir and cardiovascular risk among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: A systematic review
INTRODUCTION: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy decreases CVD risk overall, several studies have suggested...
Adverse drug reactions due to drug-drug interactions with proton pump inhibitors: Assessment of systematic reviews with AMSTAR method
INTRODUCTION: Many systematic reviews resulted in claims on drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Such a large number begs for consensus on the clinical significance of findings. AREAS...
The association between HIV, antiretroviral therapy and gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVES: The widespread, chronic use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) raises questions concerning the metabolic consequences of HIV infection and treatment. Antiretroviral therapy, and specifically protease inhibitors (PIs), has been associated...
Suboptimal viral suppression rates among HIV-infected children in low- and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The 90-90-90 goals aim to achieve viral suppression in 90% of all HIV-infected people on antiretroviral treatment (ART), which is especially challenging in children. Global estimates of viral suppression...