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Background The combination of combined active antiretroviral therapy (cART) with chemotherapy in the treatment of lymphoma in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients has improved the overall survival of these patients. However, drug–drug interactions between antineoplastic agents and the antiretroviral agents non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) can occur by influencing the activity of the CYP3A4 enzyme. So far, little is known about the clinical relevance of this interaction: the effect on the efficacy and toxicity of the chemotherapy. Also, there is no general consensus which cART is preferable in combination with antineoplastic drugs. Objective To compare PI-based with NNRTI-based cART on the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy in lymphoma patients. Setting The Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Method A retrospective observational cohort study including all patients with HIV and lymphoma over a 10-year period. Clinical outcome (response to chemotherapy and survival) and toxicity of chemotherapy (renal, hepatic and bone marrow toxicity as well as dose reduction, treatment delay and discontinuation) was compared in patients with PI based and NNRTI-based cART. Main outcome measure: Response to chemotherapy and survival. Results Patients using PI-based cART (n = 22) had a significantly lower 1 year survival compared to NNRTI-based cART (n = 21). No significant differences were observed in reaching complete remission after chemotherapy. No overall significant differences in toxicity and discontinuation of the chemotherapy were observed. However, there was a trend towards more severe bone-marrow toxicity in patients with PI-based cART. In addition, patients with PI-based cART received earlier dose-reduction and treatment delay, indicating increased toxicity in PI-treated patients. Conclusion This retrospective study shows that PI-based cART is inferior in combination with chemotherapy to NNRTI-based cART: a lower 1 year survival is observed and dose-reduction and treatment delay occur earlier, possibly based on an earlier onset of toxicity.

Purpose We selected and evaluated a comprehensive set of themes that encompass health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among HIV patients, which enables clinicians to tailor care to individual needs, follow changes over time and quantify returns on health care investments and interventions. Methods HIV patients (N = 250) of two Dutch HIV clinics were invited to complete an online survey comprised of a set of (adaptations of) validated questionnaires measuring eight themes, including general health (SF-12), stigma (short stigma scale), social support (SSL12-I), self-esteem (SISE), sexuality problems, anxiety and depression (HADS), sleeping difficulties (SCL90-Sleep) and perceived side-effects. Results Findings from 170 (response rate 68%) patients (Male = 159, 94.1%) showed that questionnaires had high internal consistency, and most themes significantly correlated (r’s .21 to − .69, p

A 65-year-old man with weight loss, a 65-year-old Surinam woman with dyspnoea, and a 55-year-old lesbian woman suffering from painful joints, weight loss and diarrhoea were eventually diagnosed as being infected with HIV. At the time of diagnosis, all three patients had CD4 counts below 100 cells x 10(6)/l and had presented with aids defining symptoms. In the Netherlands, an estimated 40% of people infected with HIV do not know about their HIV status. Earlier recognition would reduce morbidity and mortality and furthermore, reduce transmission of the virus. For this reason we advocate routine HIV testing for all persons belonging to a population with an HIV prevalence above 0.2% but also for all patients presenting with unresolved chronic complaints, irrespective of HIV risk factors.

In 1999, Médicins sans Frontières started an HIV/AIDS programme in Ukraine, a country with an estimated 410,000 people with HIV (1.4% prevalence), including 53,000 in urgent need of antiretroviral therapy. Between 1999 and 2004, a comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme was implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health in AIDS centres in Odessa, Mikolaev and Simferopol. Initial activities included prevention and treatment advocacy campaigns, which were later followed by prevention of mother-to-child transmission, treatment of opportunistic infections, antiretroviral therapy for infants and adults and palliative care. This programme has served as a model and has led to meaningful improvements in HIV/AIDS care in Ukraine. It demonstrates that adequate care for patients with HIV or AIDS is possible in countries like Ukraine.