HIV update

HIV Weekly - 12th May 2010

A round-up of the latest HIV news, for people living with HIV in the UK and beyond.

Late diagnosis

It’s recommended that you should start taking HIV treatment when your CD4 cell count is around 350.

Starting HIV treatment at this time – rather than waiting until later – reduces your risk of becoming ill because of HIV. It also reduces your risk of developing some other serious illnesses as well – for example heart, kidney and liver disease, and some cancers.

But many people with HIV are diagnosed when their CD4 cell count is already low. Late diagnosis of HIV is the main reason underlying much of the HIV-related illness and death still seen in the UK today.

Now US researchers have found that, at the time of diagnosis, over half of all patients in the US have a CD4 cell count below the recommended threshold for starting HIV treatment.

Black people were especially likely to have low CD4 cell counts at the time of diagnosis.

But even if your CD4 cell count is below 350 at the time of your diagnosis, it’s good to know that HIV treatment can still be very effective.

HIV-positive adolescents and pregnancy

Thanks to improvements in treatment and care, many children who were infected with HIV at birth are now adolescents or young adults.

British researchers have found a high rate of unplanned pregnancies in this group of patients.

A quarter of the pregnancies were terminated. In 39% of cases, HIV status had not been disclosed to their sexual partners.

HYPNet, the HIV in Young People Network, and the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) have published draft guidance about the provision of pregnancy and sexual health support for HIV-positive adolescents.

It covers topics such as:

  • preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections;
  • contraception;
  • symptoms and treatment of sexually transmitted infections;
  • vaccinations;
  • HIV disclosure;
  • post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP);
  • conception options and fertility issues;
  • pregnancy and avoiding mother-to-child transmission;
  • options if there is an unplanned pregnancy;
  • sexual exploitation and sexual violence;
  • sexual difficulties;
  • psychological support for negotiating safe sex,
  • self-assertion, bullying and other issues.

The draft is on HYPNet's website and out to consultation until 28th May 2010. HYPNet and CHIVA would welcome comments.

HIV and TB