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CDC on Thursday issued updated
interim guidance on the use of once-a-day Truvada to prevent HIV, saying
providers should consider prescribing it for heterosexual women and men who are
at high risk of infection. US health officials previously advised doctors to
give Truvada only to high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM).
Heterosexuals comprise more than a
quarter of new HIV cases annually, CDC said. “That’s not a portion of the
epidemic we want to ignore,” said Dr. Dawn Smith, lead author of CDC’s new
guidance.
While Truvada has been approved to
treat HIV since 2004, studies showed it was effective as a preventive among gay
and bisexual men. That prompted federal health officials last year to issue
prescribing guidance for doctors treating MSM at high risk for infection. But
studies also have found Truvada can help prevent HIV in heterosexual men and
women. Just last month, the Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada as a
preventive for healthy people at high risk for acquiring HIV.
CDC does not recommend the drug for
all sexually active heterosexuals. Even in cases where one partner in a couple
has HIV, regular condom use is generally effective protection. Smith said one
possible scenario for prescribing Truvada as a preventive would be a couple
that wanted to have a baby.
The article, “Interim Guidance for
Clinicians Considering the Use of Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of
HIV Infection in Heterosexually Active Adults,” was published in CDC’s
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2012;61(313):586-589); visit http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6131a2.htm?s_cid=mm6131a2_w.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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