HIV prevention and transmission

All the news in this edition of HIV Weekly is concerned, in one way or another, with the transmission of HIV.

Lipoatrophy forum

Some anti-HIV drugs can cause loss of fat from the face, limbs and buttocks. This fat loss is called lipoatrophy and the drugs most associated with it are d4T (stavudine, Zerit) and AZT (zidovudine).   These drugs aren’t generally recommended for HIV treatment in the UK any more because of this and other side-effects. But a lot of people took them in the past and have experienced fat loss.

The International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), together with NAM and THT will be hosting a “town hall meeting” (similar in format to the information forums NAM has organised) when Prof Brian Gazzard of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital will talk about what is known about the causes and treatment of lipoatrophy.

It will be held on Monday 28^th July starting at 7pm in room B35 at Birkbeck, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm in rooms B02/03 and the event will end at 9pm.

It’s free and further information can be obtained by calling 020 7812 1791 or 020 78121795 or emailing healthpromotion@tht.org.uk.