aidsmap news: People with unsuppressed viral load have weaker antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccine, 7 February 2022

News from aidsmap

People with unsuppressed viral load have weaker antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccine

People with HIV who had detectable viral load at the time of vaccination produced lower levels of antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute report in the journal AIDS. Further research is needed to determine if this group are especially vulnerable to loss of antibody protection.

Does your patient living with HIV need advice, empathy, or something different?

A team of researchers looked at how HIV healthcare providers responded to the emotions of their patients living with HIV during routine clinic visits. Through several analyses, they found that there are racial disparities in how HIV providers respond to patient emotions and cultural differences in how people express their emotions. Also, providers who describe themselves as high in empathy don’t actually respond more empathetically to patients.

Tele-harm reduction: a new approach in the US shows promise for people with HIV who inject drugs

A pilot programme incorporated tele-health access to antiretroviral therapy, HIV providers and flexible medication delivery and storage options into an existing syringe services programme in Miami, Florida. Twenty-five of the 35 people with HIV who enrolled in the  “tele-harm reduction” programme achieved viral suppression within six months.

Hepatitis C treatment and cure targets for people living with HIV still not being met in Europe

While over 90% of people living with HIV in Europe have been tested for hepatitis C, diagnosis remains suboptimal in the east of the continent. In three of five European regions, fewer than 80% of people with HIV and hepatitis C co-infection have received hepatitis treatment and the proportion who have been cured does not exceed 80% in any region. The study published in the March issue of AIDS also shows that there are significant differences between countries.

Fear of judgement prevents gay and bisexual men from discussing chemsex with healthcare workers in Australia

Only a third of gay and bisexual men who engage in chemsex in Australia said they would feel comfortable discussing chemsex with their family doctor/general practitioner, according to a study by Dr Daniel Demant and colleagues recently published in Addictive Behaviours Reports. Most men agreed they knew where to access relevant information on harm reduction and chemsex, but many participants were worried about being judged by health professionals.

Asian people with HIV gain weight after starting treatment at similar rate to other ethnic groups

Weight gain after starting integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral treatment occurs to a similar extent in Asian adults with HIV compared to previously studied populations in North America and southern Africa, researchers from the TREAT Asia cohort report in HIV Medicine.

Large disparities in dolutegravir uptake persist between men and women in low and middle-income countries

A study from eleven low- and middle-income countries has found that uptake of dolutegravir, a highly effective antiretroviral medication, is lowest for women of reproductive age with HIV. Although similar proportions of men and women were receiving dolutegravir before May 2018, profound disparities rapidly emerged after that date and persist despite the World Health Organization's recommendation to expand its use to all adults and adolescents with HIV.

The US must tackle racial disparities among people who inject drugs and expand syringe service programmes

Results published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report show alarming racial disparities in HIV prevalence and access to services among people who use drugs in US cities. Between 2015 and 2018, the overall prevalence of HIV infection among people who inject drugs held steady at 7%. However, Black people had higher rates of HIV than their Hispanic or White counterparts, despite reporting fewer HIV risk behaviours.

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Editors' picks from other sources

Interim BHIVA guidance on long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine (LA-CAB/RPV) for antiretroviral therapy | BHIVA

In lieu of the formal 2022 BHIVA treatment guidelines, due for consultation and completion by the BHIVA Spring Conference 2022, BHIVA has developed interim guidance on the use of injectables in response to enquiries from members and people living with HIV.

Analysis: Moderna's HIV vaccine trial will advance many companies' mRNA plans | The Washington Post

Creating an mRNA vaccine for HIV is trickier than making the kind of SARS-CoV-2 shots we’ve become familiar with.

A 'highly virulent' HIV strain is 'no cause for alarm,' scientists say | NBC News

The newly identified, more infectious strain of HIV likely began circulating in the Netherlands in the 1990s and responds well to treatment, according to researchers.

OraSure Technologies, Inc. expands HIV oral swab in-home test into Europe | GlobeNewswire (press release)

The test will be available in six European countries: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

HIV prevention vaginal ring withdrawn from FDA consideration | Medscape (requires free registration)

One year after the World Health Organization recommended a vaginal ring to protect women from HIV following years of research – some done in the US – the ring will not be coming to US clinics. Here's why.  

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