Amit Achhra, MPH, PhD, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)Cards
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Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
Biography
I have completed my internal medicine residency training at the NYP/Weill-Cornell, New York, and fellowship in Infectious diseases/HIV at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston. Prior to that, I did a PhD at the Kirby Institute/University of New South Wales (Australia) in epidemiological studies in HIV/AIDS. Clinically, I'm interested in HIV primary care, cases of HIV with complex resistance history, STIs, COVID-19 therapeutics, and general infectious diseases. In my clinical educator role, I train residents and fellows at Yale in ID and HIV, as well as work with CT DPH and Sylvie Ratelle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center as the educator Faculty. My current research is focused on implementation work in HIV care, STIs and clinical trials in HIV and COVID-19.
Appointments
Infectious Diseases
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Mass General Brigham/Harvard Medical School (2021)
- Resident
- NYP/ Weill Cornell Medical Center (2019)
- Intern
- Mt Sinai School of Medicine (Bronx program) (2017)
- PhD
- University of New South Wales (2012)
- MPH
- University of Wollongong (2008)
- MD
- K J Somaiya Medical College, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (2007)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Michael Virata, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Bubu Banini, MD, PhD
Dhanpat Jain, MD
Eric Isaac Elliott, MD, PhD
Haddon Pantel, MD
Ritche Manos Hao, MD, BS
Publications
2024
Long-term impact of immediate versus deferred antiretroviral therapy on kidney health in people with HIV
Pelchen-Matthews A, Mocroft A, Ryom L, Ross M, Sharma S, Coca S, Achhra A, Cornell E, Tracy R, Phillips A, Alonso M, Toulomi G, Agan B, Medland N, Wyatt C, Group I. Long-term impact of immediate versus deferred antiretroviral therapy on kidney health in people with HIV. Kidney International 2024, 106: 136-144. PMID: 38697479, PMCID: PMC11193627, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.04.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusUrine albumin/creatinine ratioDeferred antiretroviral therapyChronic kidney diseaseStrategic Timing of AntiRetroviral TreatmentAntiretroviral therapyNo significant differenceTreatment armsFollow-upAnnual rate of eGFR declineRate of eGFR declineTiming of AntiRetroviral TreatmentEarly ARTART-naive adultsCD4 cell countImmediate antiretroviral therapySignificant differenceKidney-related deathLong-term safetyKidney healthStandard of careComprehensive follow-upImmunodeficiency virusAlbumin/creatinine ratioEGFR declineAcute Hepatitis due to Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Elliott E, Smith D, Lipscomb J, Banini B, Meurer L, Vanderford T, Johnson J, Jain D, Achhra A. Acute Hepatitis due to Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2024, 11: ofae170. PMID: 38585186, PMCID: PMC10996125, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae170.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHuman immunodeficiency virus infectionAcute hepatitisPrimary human immunodeficiency virus infectionConsistent with acute hepatitisPrimary human immunodeficiency virusHuman immunodeficiency virus p24 antigenAcute retroviral syndromeImmunodeficiency virus infectionSevere acute hepatitisHIV proviral DNAAcute liver diseaseP24 antigenImmunodeficiency virusLaboratory abnormalitiesSystemic manifestationsRare caseLiver diseaseProviral DNAVirus infectionLiver histopathologyHepatitisCell compartmentParenchymal cellsLiver tissueAcute Hepatitis Due to Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Open Forum Infectious Diseases, ofae170, https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofae170 Published: 22 March 2024Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical Notes
2023
1478. Evaluation Of Anal Cancer Screening Program in men who have sex with men (MSM) persons with HIV (PWH) At Two academic center HIV Clinics 2018-2022
Achhra A, Chan E, Applebaum S, Guerrero M, Hao R, Pantel H, Virata M, Barakat L. 1478. Evaluation Of Anal Cancer Screening Program in men who have sex with men (MSM) persons with HIV (PWH) At Two academic center HIV Clinics 2018-2022. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.1314. PMCID: PMC10677807, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.1314.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnal dysplasiaAbnormal PapHIV clinicAnal cancer screening programsAmbulatory HIV clinicRetrospective chart reviewHistory of smokingCancer screening programsSquamous cell carcinomaAnal cytologyAntiretroviral therapyHIV careChart reviewClinic visitsMedian ageMultivariable analysisCell carcinomaScreening programPrior historyAge 35High riskType of insuranceBackground treatmentCharacteristics of peoplePWH1538. Is there value in performing yearly screening for latent tuberculosis infection by interferon-gamma release assay among patients living with HIV in non-endemic settings?
Palacios C, Achhra A, Barakat L, Virata M, Hao R, Baxter J, Malinis M. 1538. Is there value in performing yearly screening for latent tuberculosis infection by interferon-gamma release assay among patients living with HIV in non-endemic settings? Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2023, 10: ofad500.1373. PMCID: PMC10678242, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad500.1373.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInterferon-gamma release assaysLatent tuberculosis infectionNew latent tuberculosis infectionsTuberculin skin testingNon-endemic settingRisk factorsCD4 countTuberculosis infectionCurrent guidelinesGroup APositive interferon-gamma release assaysHigher HIV viral loadUrban academic medical centerChest imaging resultsLow CD4 countTB exposure riskTB risk factorsCells/mm3HIV viral loadRetrospective chart reviewFeatures of patientsRisk of reactivationInterferon-gamma releaseCommon risk factorsAcademic medical center
2022
Contrasting Cases of HIV Vasculopathy Associated Fusiform Aneurysms
Kyle K, Maher M, Achhra A, Venna N. Contrasting Cases of HIV Vasculopathy Associated Fusiform Aneurysms. The Neurohospitalist 2022, 13: 69-73. PMID: 36531848, PMCID: PMC9755620, DOI: 10.1177/19418744221122863.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusProgressive multifocal leukoencephalopathyFusiform aneurysmsAntiretroviral therapy adherenceAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeSpectrum of severityDevelopment of aneurysmsCerebral toxoplasmosisMultifocal leukoencephalopathyClinical courseImmunodeficiency syndromeImmunodeficiency virusTherapy adherenceVessel occlusionAneurysm formationAneurysm thrombosisIntracranial fusiform aneurysmsAneurysmsCerebral aneurysmsNine monthsFirst caseCase twoVasculopathyMoyamoyaLeukoencephalopathy
2015
O21.3 Pre-therapy inflammation/coagulation activation and long-term cd4 response to antiretroviral therapy
Achhra A, Phillips A, Emery S, MacArthur R, Furrer H, De Wit S, Losso M, Law M. O21.3 Pre-therapy inflammation/coagulation activation and long-term cd4 response to antiretroviral therapy. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2015, 91: a73.1-a73. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052270.195.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricShort‐term weight gain after antiretroviral therapy initiation and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: the D:A:D study
Achhra A, Mocroft A, Reiss P, Sabin C, Ryom L, de Wit S, Smith C, Monforte A, Phillips A, Weber R, Lundgren J, Law, Group T. Short‐term weight gain after antiretroviral therapy initiation and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: the D:A:D study. HIV Medicine 2015, 17: 255-268. PMID: 26216031, DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12294.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBody mass indexIncidence rate ratiosCardiovascular diseaseART initiationBMI categoriesHistory of CVDAntiretroviral therapy initiationRisk of diabetesTreatment-naïve individualsMain exposure variableLong-term riskPoisson regression modelsDiabetes eventsCD4 countCVD eventsTherapy initiationAdverse eventsCardiometabolic outcomesCohort studyMass indexRisk factorsSubsequent riskNormal rangeDiabetesExposure variablesPre‐therapy inflammation and coagulation activation and long‐term CD4 count responses to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy
Achhra A, Phillips A, Emery S, MacArthur R, Furrer H, De Wit S, Losso M, Law, groups I. Pre‐therapy inflammation and coagulation activation and long‐term CD4 count responses to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. HIV Medicine 2015, 16: 449-454. PMID: 25959989, PMCID: PMC5676307, DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12258.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCD4 count responseBaseline CD4 countC-reactive proteinCD4 countART initiationClinical outcomesCoagulation activationBiomarker levelsInterleukin-6Therapy trialsMedian baseline CD4 countAntiretroviral Therapy (SMART) trialFirst-line ARTInflammatory marker levelsHIV-positive individualsLong-term CD4CD4 count measurementCD4 responseART-naïveCent of individualsStudy armsD-dimerCount responseMean ageMarker levelsKidney disease in antiretroviral‐naïve HIV‐positive adults with high CD4 counts: prevalence and predictors of kidney disease at enrolment in the INSIGHT Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) trial
Achhra A, Mocroft A, Ross M, Ryom L, Lucas G, Furrer H, Neuhaus J, Somboonwit C, Kelly M, Gatell J, Wyatt C, Group I. Kidney disease in antiretroviral‐naïve HIV‐positive adults with high CD4 counts: prevalence and predictors of kidney disease at enrolment in the INSIGHT Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) trial. HIV Medicine 2015, 16: 55-63. PMID: 25711324, PMCID: PMC4341947, DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChronic kidney diseaseCD4 cell countPrevalence of CKDART-naïve adultsGlomerular filtration rateUrine proteinCell countAntiretroviral therapyBaseline characteristicsKidney diseaseFiltration rateHigher CD4 cell countsTraditional CKD risk factorsCKD risk factorsHigher CD4 countsCells/μLCells/μL.AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) studyClinical trial participantsRace/ethnicityCD4 countHIV infectionRisk factorsLow prevalenceTrial participants
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Reviewer
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsClinical infectious diseases (CID); Journal of infectious diseases (JID); Diabetes care; BMJ Open; JAIDS; PLOS One; HIV Medicine; BMC infectious diseases; PLOS neglected and tropical diseases; Infectious agents and cancerDetails2012 - Presentactivity Advisor
CommitteesYale School of MedicineInfectious Disesaes Fellowship Program Evaluation CommitteeDetails2022 - Presentactivity Reviewer
Journal ServiceJournal Of Infectious DiseasesDetails01/03/2022 - Presentactivity Co-Founder
Meeting Planning and ParticipationYale School of MedicineI co-founded this monthly conference called "Ambulatory ID Rounds". It provides a platform for various clinicians to discuss their active complex cases and ask questions from their peers. Goal is to improve patient care and increase clinical learning in a collegial environment.Details02/02/2022 - Presentactivity Chair
Public ServiceClinical Advisory Team of Connecticut Sexual Health CoalitionChair the Clinical Advisory Team on STIs and Mpox formed by CT DPH in response to STI epidemic in the CT state. Advisory team's input will help CT DPH make policy decisions to combat this epidemic.Details09/01/2023 - Present
Clinical Care
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
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Board Certifications
Infectious Disease
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2021
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2019
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News
- July 26, 2024Source: Healthline
Twice-Yearly Shot Offers 100% HIV Protection, Study Finds
- July 10, 2024
Faculty and Trainees Recognized for Outstanding Teaching During Internal Medicine Primary Care Residency Graduation
- February 23, 2024
Department of Internal Medicine Promotions and Appointments (February 2024)
- March 08, 2023
Faculty Network Spotlight: NGN
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