CROI 2013: Random Anal Biopsies Improve Detection of Pre-cancerous Lesions

Performing random anal biopsies increases the rate of diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) during high-resolution anoscopy, researchers from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City reported at the recent 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013).

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HIV Infection May Raise Risk of Sudden Hearing Loss

Young HIV positive people age 18 to 35 had more than twice the likelihood of sudden sensorineural hearing loss compared with their HIV negative counterparts, according to an analysis of nearly 9000 people with HIV described in the February 21, 2013, advance online edition of JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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CROI 2013: Researchers Look at Neurological Complications among People with HIV

Data from a small, yet well-designed trial to evaluate whether particular antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) and enhance neurocognitive performance were among several interesting findings regarding neurological complications among people with HIV presented at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) this month in Atlanta. Another study looked at similarities between Alzheimer's disease and neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV.

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People with HIV Have Higher Rates of Non-AIDS Malignancies, Skin Cancer

The incidence of non-AIDS-defining cancers has increased among people with HIV in the era of effective antiretroviral treatment, including malignancies caused by viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), and squamous cell non-melanoma skin cancer, according to 2 recently published studies.

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CROI 2013: Statins for People with HIV -- How Sweet Is It?

Statins may help reduce co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease and lower mortality for some people with HIV, but with a possible trade-off of higher diabetes risk, according to a series of studies presented and discussed at 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) this month in Atlanta.

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HIV Treatment Interruption Associated with Reduced Bone Loss in SMART Trial

People who stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the SMART trial had less bone loss and lower levels of bone metabolism biomarkers than people who remained on continuous treatment, according to a report in the January 8, 2013, advance edition of Journal of Bone Mineral Research.

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CROI 2013: HIV and Aging -- Are People with HIV at Greater Risk for Heart Disease and Cancer? [VIDEO]

Keri Althoff from the VA Medical Center and George Washington University Medical School described findings from a study looking at risk of non-AIDS conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) this month in Atlanta.

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Higher Dose Flu Vaccine Works Better for People with HIV

HIV positive people who received a quadruple dose of a trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine produced more protective antibodies without a significant increase in side effects, researchers reported in the January 1, 2013, Annals of Internal Medicine.

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CROI 2013: HIV+ Men at Increased Risk for Co-morbid Conditions Regardless of Age

 Men with HIV in a large cohort of U.S. veterans were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, end-stage kidney disease, and certain cancers compared with HIV negative people, but not at earlier ages, according to a report presented at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections this month in Atlanta.

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FDA Approves Diarrhea Drug Crofelemer for People with HIV/AIDS

On December 31, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved crofelemer (brand name Fulyzaq) for treatment of diarrhea in people with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART) -- the first approved medication for this indication.

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CROI 2013: Heart Disease Rises Only Slighter Faster with Age for People with HIV

The risk of cardiovascular disease among HIV positive men in D:A:D rose from age 40-45 to 60-65, but only slightly more rapidly than in the general population,researchers reported at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) last week in Atlanta. A related analysis found that the likelihood of death after a heart attack has fallen over time.

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Working Group Releases Guidelines for Improved Care of HIV-associated Cognitive Impairment

All people with HIV should be screened for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders soon after testing positive, and those with evidence of impairment should be monitored regularly, according to international consensus guidelines developed by the Mind Exchange Working Group published in the November 28, 2012, advance edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Beyond antiretroviral therapy (ART), however, there are limited options for managing neurocognitive problems.

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CROI 2013: HIV+ People Less Likely to Use Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attacks, and May Benefit Less [VIDEO]

People with HIV were less likely than HIV negative people to use daily aspirin to prevent heart attacks, but among those who did, aspirin did not appear to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), researchers reported last week at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) in Atlanta.

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Coverage of 11th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of the 11th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV11), November 11-15, 2012, Glasgow, Scotland.

Conference highlights include experimental antiretroviral drugs, ART strategies, manging side effects, HIV-related non-AIDS conditions, treatment as prevention and PrEP, HIV/HCV coinfection, and the search for a cure for HIV.

Full listing by topic

HIVandHepatitis.com HIV11 conference section

CROI 2013: Cancer Incidence After Starting Antiretroviral Therapy [VIDEO]

Rates of AIDS-related cancers start to fall not long after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), but non-AIDS cancers rise with increasing time on therapy, according to study findings presented last week at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) in Atlanta.

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Speed of Processing Training Can Improve Cognitive Function for People with HIV

Completing 10 hours of exercises designed to enhance mental processing speed led to improvements in cognitive functioning for middle-aged and older people with HIV and increased their ability to carry out daily tasks, researchers reported in the November 2012 Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. 

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Coverage of the 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013), March 3-6, 2013, in Atlanta.

Conference highlights include experimental therapies for HIV and hepatitis C, HIV cure research, aging, HIV-related conditions and treatment complications, HIV treatment as prevention and PrEP,  and HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfection.

Full listing by topic 

HIVandHepatitis.com CROI 2013 conference section

CDC Recommends Pneumococcal Vaccine Combo for Immune Compromised People

Immunocompromised individuals, including people with HIV, should receive both the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar 13 and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine Pneumovax 23 to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease, according to the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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CROI 2013: Retrovirus Conference Starts Sunday in Atlanta

The 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) kicks off Sunday, March 3, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. HIVandHepatitis.com will be on site next week to bring you breaking news coverage on HIV and hepatitis C.

Look for reports from the HIVandHepatitis.com team and our content partners at NAM/Aidsmap.com starting Monday. Sign up for our email newsletter to get the latest headlines and follow us on Twitter @HIVandHepatitis.

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Methadone Use Reduces Risk of HIV Infection among Injection Drug Users

Methadone maintenance therapy is associated with a lower risk of HIV infection among people who inject drugs, though this may be attributable in part to differing behavior among people who do and do not seek treatment for addiction, according to a report in the October 3, 2012, British Medical Journal.

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