An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
March 10th, 2010
The Extraordinary Power of Placebo
Just published in the journal Neurology — not typically on my radar screen — is this remarkable study comparing pregabalin to placebo for HIV-related distal sensory peripheral neuropathy. Here are the results: At endpoint, pregabalin and placebo showed substantial reductions in mean Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score from baseline: -2.88 vs -2.63, p = 0.3941. (-snip-) […]
July 10th, 2009
Time for a Switch? What Actually Happened
A couple of months ago, I presented these three clinically stable, virologically suppressed patients — and asked if they should switch treatment: 50 year old man on ABC/3TC, EFV since 2000. No renal disease. Hyperlipidemia, on atorvastatin 80 mg a day. Father died of an MI age 48. 63 year old man, on EFV + LPV/r […]