A popular anti-HIV drug nearly doubles the risk of heart attack, according to recently published research.
The work, published in The Lancet medical journal, considered over 33,000 people taking a range of HIV combination treatments. It was found that two of the drugs studied, abacavir and didanosine, increased the risk of heart attack - abacavir significantly more so than didanosine.
Lead researcher Jens Lundgren, of Copenhagen University, said: "If the decision is made to consider discontinuation of either drug, then a full assessment of the possible risks and benefits of their continued use should be undertaken.
"Such an assessment must be individualised for each patient.
"It should take into account their underlying risk of heart attacks, the availability of other treatment options after taking into account their history of past treatment and HIV resistance testing, and the safety profile of alternative HIV medication."
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), manufacturer of abacivir, said that their own investigations of the drug had shown no evidence that it increased the risk of heart attack.
Dr Didier Lapierre of GSK said: "GSK takes the finding seriously and is committed to understanding these data more fully and to communicating openly with treating physicians and regulatory agencies globally."
The work, published in The Lancet medical journal, considered over 33,000 people taking a range of HIV combination treatments. It was found that two of the drugs studied, abacavir and didanosine, increased the risk of heart attack - abacavir significantly more so than didanosine.
Lead researcher Jens Lundgren, of Copenhagen University, said: "If the decision is made to consider discontinuation of either drug, then a full assessment of the possible risks and benefits of their continued use should be undertaken.
"Such an assessment must be individualised for each patient.
"It should take into account their underlying risk of heart attacks, the availability of other treatment options after taking into account their history of past treatment and HIV resistance testing, and the safety profile of alternative HIV medication."
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), manufacturer of abacivir, said that their own investigations of the drug had shown no evidence that it increased the risk of heart attack.
Dr Didier Lapierre of GSK said: "GSK takes the finding seriously and is committed to understanding these data more fully and to communicating openly with treating physicians and regulatory agencies globally."
