News from aidsmap
One dose of TAF every three days gets more drug into cells than a daily dose of TDF
Two studies that compared intracellular levels of the drugs used in PrEP found that levels of tenofovir in cells were seven times higher when the newer version of the tenofovir prodrug, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), was used, than when the older version, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), was used.
People over 50 years old or with existing kidney dysfunction are more likely to get kidney damage when using tenofovir disoproxil-based PrEP
A study published in AIDS found that people who already had some evidence of decreased kidney function on blood tests or who were aged over 50 were significantly more likely to develop kidney impairment when taking tenofovir disoproxil as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The risk of kidney damage when taking PrEP was found to be low, although it may have been underestimated in previous clinical studies.
Ultra-short course treatment for hepatitis C: high failure rate but does not compromise second-line treatment
Ultra-short treatment courses tailored to a person's pre-treatment viral load deliver lower cure rates than 8-week treatment courses, but failure of ultra-short treatment does not prevent subsequent cure of hepatitis C with a second course of treatment, the STOPHCV1 study has found.
Dolutegravir more likely to suppress very high viral loads than other recommended first-line drugs
People with very high pre-treatment viral loads who took dolutegravir were significantly less likely to have experienced treatment failure nine months after starting treatment compared to people taking other drugs recommended for first-line treatment, a review of more than 2000 people in the United States shows.
Adult healthcare providers need to build long-term trusting relationship with adolescents living with HIV
The relationship between adolescents and their healthcare providers is crucial for a successful transition and positive long-term health outcomes, results published in The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care reveal. The researchers state that there is too little emphasis on the importance of this relationship and how to build a long-term trusting relationship with adult providers. A holistic, patient-centered model of care supports better outcomes for adolescents, they say.
Large review finds some evidence that peer support is beneficial in HIV care
A review of the evidence for peer support has found that retention in care, antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral suppression may be improved for those involved in peer support programmes compared to those who were not. Dr Rigmor Berg of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health showed that peer support may be helpful for these three outcomes, but found no compelling evidence for the other psychosocial and medical outcomes that they were evaluating.
Menopausal women living with HIV need better information on how to manage symptoms
Women with HIV in the UK, and the healthcare providers who support them, need to be better informed about ways to manage menopausal symptoms. Dr Hajra Okhai of University College London and colleagues reported in HIV Medicine that a low number of women are taking treatments that could ease their menopausal symptoms.
Treatment interruption in cure research is associated with greater risk of non-AIDS related events in the long term, Spanish study finds
A small study from an HIV hospital that has been conducting experimental analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) as part of research into achieving a functional cure for HIV infection has found that over a period of years, patients who had undergone ATIs had a higher risk of developing non-AIDS-related serious illnesses such as cancer, liver disease and kidney disease than a control group of patients who never interrupted their antiretroviral therapy (ART).
aidsmapCHAT
On Monday 13 September, we held a very special aidsmapCHAT with Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. Winnie spoke to NAM aidsmap's Susan Cole and Matthew Hodson.
You can catch up with the broadcast on Facebook and Twitter.
Editors' picks from other sources
California may outlaw stealthing, the removal of a condom without consent | POZ
In a first, California lawmakers are poised to make it illegal to take off a condom without a partner’s permission.
Imbokodo trial results highlight challenge of developing an HIV vaccine and urgent need for access to proven prevention tools | TAG HIV Basic Science, Vaccines, and Cure Project Blog
The outcome underscores the difficulty of inducing protective immunity against HIV compared to other pathogens, and highlights the importance of making effective biomedical prevention options accessible to those in need, including women in the communities where Imobokodo took place.
Transgender individuals twice as likely to die as general population | Medscape (requires free registration)
A study has shown a doubling of mortality risk in trans people taking cross-sex hormones compared with the general population. Trans women had double the risk of cis men, and triple that of cis women.
The pandemic has set back the fight against HIV, TB and malaria | New York Times
Prevention and treatment fell in poor countries last year as access to health care declined, according to a new report.
Contraception, emergency contraception and unwanted pregnancy
Choosing a method of contraception depends on your situation and preferences, how well it suits your lifestyle and how often you have to use it. Several anti-HIV drugs interfere with how hormonal contraceptives work, and contraceptives may not be as effective as usual. If there are drug interactions, you can be supported to change your HIV treatment so that you can use your preferred contraceptive method. You can read about different types of contraception in our newly updated page.
We have also updated our page on emergency contraception and unwanted pregnancy. For people taking HIV treatment, the intrauterine device (IUD) is the recommended method of emergency contraception. People taking some anti-HIV drugs need to alter the dose of the emergency contraceptive pill. The page also covers abortion and adoption.