HIV drug may increase heart attack risk

New research has found certain drugs can increase the risk of heart attacks among people with HIV/AIDS.

Twenty people took part in the Garvan Institute of Medical Research study, with 10 taking the drug Ritonavir and 10 others the drug Raltegravir.

The institute's associate professor, Katherine Samaras, says she tested the participants' blood-fat levels after meals and the result was astounding.

"We found that one drug, Ritonavir, increased the post-meal level of the blood fats and LDL cholesterol; the other drug we looked at did not do this," she said.

"So this suggests there might be differences from one drug to another.