Continued Concern About Abacavir and Cardiovascular Risk

This year’s Retrovirus Conference did little to alleviate concerns about the previously published association between abacavir use and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Last year, data were published from both the DAD study and the SMART trial showing an association between abacavir use and increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD; JW AIDS Clin Care Apr 14 2008 and Sep 11 2008). The unexpected findings prompted a flurry of research, much of which was presented at this year’s Retrovirus Conference.

Investigators described four key studies, three of which supported an association between abacavir use and cardiovascular outcomes:

An updated analysis from the DAD Study, involving >178,000 person-years of follow-up, confirmed that recent abacavir use was strongly associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction (MI), whereas cumulative exposure was only modestly associated with MI [Lundgren J et al.…

Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Continued Concern About Abacavir and Cardiovascular Risk

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