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Study Evaluates HIV Genetic Screening

Posted on: Thursday, 18 September 2008, 12:00 CDT

U.S. researchers say they've found a recent change to human immunodeficiency virus treatment guidelines recommending genetic screening is cost effective.

The study by medical researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and Massachusetts General Hospital suggests conducting genetic screening prior to prescribing the drug abacavir, one of the preferred first-line drugs for the treatment for HIV-infected adults.

"The guideline change represents one of the first situations in which a genetic test has been recommended for use in clinical practice to guide drug selection that will affect treatment decisions for thousands of patients each year," said Associate Professor Bruce Schackman, the study's lead author. "While the guidelines now recommend physicians order this new test before prescribing abacavir, policy makers and insurers want to know whether the additional cost of the test is appropriate compared with not testing and using a different drug."

Previous studies indicated abacavir can cause a hypersensitivity reaction, especially in patients with a particular genetic variation that can be identified by the genetic test, scientists said. Severe hypersensitivity reactions are very rare, but affect multiple organs and can be serious enough to cause hospitalization or death.

The study is reported in the online edition of the journal AIDS.

Source: United Press International

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