AMA Adopts Policy to Raise Awareness of New HIV Treatment Guidelines

American Medical Association (AMA) Adopts Policy to Raise Awareness of New HIV Treatment Guidelines

During the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) in June 2013, a new policy was approved to support programs that “raise physician awareness of early treatment options for individuals diagnosed with HIV.  Even though these guideline changes occurred earlier in the year, the AMA reported that they had not been widely publicized to physicians.

In February 2013, based on recent news studies that continue to confirm the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, the National Institute of Health (NIH) released new treatment guidelines for newly diagnosed HIV patients. Previously, antiretroviral therapy was not instituted until the individual’s CD4 cell or T-cell count dropped significantly below the normal range of 500 cells/ mm³ -1000 cells/ mm³ or transmission occurred. The new guidelines call for antiretroviral therapy to begin upon diagnosis for a better prognosis and to prevent the transmission of the HIV.

In June 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued similar changes to world-wide treatment guidelines. Like the National Institute of Health, the WHO now recommends that individuals with CD4 cell counts at 500 cells/mm³ or less begin antiretroviral therapy. In previous years, antiretroviral therapy was not offered until the individual’s CD4 cell count had fallen to 350 cells/ mm³ or less. And in

At the end of 2012, close to 10 million people were receiving ART in low- and middle-income countries. However, over 16 million other people who are eligible for ART under new 2013 guidelines do not have access to antiretroviral drugs.

The modified guidelines for the World Health Organization treatment of HIV includes treatment for all children the age of five with the diagnosis, all HIV-positive women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and HIV-positive individuals with sexual partners who are HIV-negative.

Recommendations about the best course of treatment have also been offered by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  Studies suggest that Atripla sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb, the combination of three antiretroviral drugs (tenofovir, lamivudine, and efavirenz) as one pill taken once daily is the most effective treatment. This medication is also relatively cheap. So it is recommended by both the NIH and WHO. This medication is also recommended for individuals with HIV and active tuberculosis or hepatitis B.

However, one concern is that more than 16 million people who are not eligible for treatment this year until the new guidelines are still unable to afford the cost of this medication.