CROI 2009 Newsroom

CROI 2009 Highlights: A Review of Cardiovascular Disease and HIV (March 15, 2009)
An interview with David Wohl, M.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Risk for Salivary Gland Cancer High Among People With AIDS (March 5, 2009)
From Project Inform
Non-AIDS Defining Cancers in People With HIV (March 4, 2009)
From Project Inform
Who Is At Risk for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma? (March 3, 2009)
From Project Inform
Duration of Therapy for Treating HBV (March 2, 2009)
From Project Inform
Ezetimibe Lowers Cholesterol Levels (March 1, 2009)
From Project Inform
Testing PrEP on a Global Scale (February 28, 2009)
From Project Inform
Topical Gel Prevents HIV Infection in Monkeys (February 27, 2009)
From Project Inform
Truvada Prevents Rectal HIV Infection in Monkeys (February 26, 2009)
From Project Inform
Which CROI 2009 Studies Are Most Likely to Impact Clinical Care? (February 25, 2009)
Tune in as Joel Gallant, M.D., M.P.H., one of the United States' foremost HIV experts, walks us through some of the most important findings regarding HIV treatment strategies presented at CROI 2009.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body
Cancer Rate for Isentress Similar to Other HIV Meds (February 24, 2009)
From Project Inform
A Common Blood Product Called IVIG May Help Clear the HIV Reservoir (February 23, 2009)
From Project Inform
Two Studies Show Kaletra and Isentress Similarly Suppress HIV, Yet Have Different Side Effects (February 22, 2009)
From Project Inform
More Monotherapy Data Underscore Its Potential to Harm (February 21, 2009)
From Project Inform
Smoking Nearly Triples the Risk of Death (February 20, 2009)
From Project Inform
Successful Therapy May Still Lead to Loss of Kidney Function (February 19, 2009)
From Project Inform
Truvada and Epizcom are Similar in Their Ability to Suppress HIV (February 18, 2009)
From Project Inform
Thin Pipeline Reveals Three Possible HIV Drugs (February 17, 2009)
From Project Inform
Treating AIDS Infection Immediately Might Stall Immune Decay (February 17, 2009)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Isentress Equal to Sustiva in First Line Therapy (February 15, 2009)
From Project Inform
Bone Mineral Density Loss Accelerated in HIV-Infected Males (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Julian Falutz, M.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Clinicians Often Fail to Test for HIV After Diagnosing AIDS-Defining Illnesses, U.S. Study Suggests (February 11, 2009)
Judy Chen, M.D., M.S.H.S., presents an analysis of 7,451 patients enrolled in private U.S. health insurance plans. The study found that clinicians frequently fail to even consider the possibility that a patient may be infected with HIV, even though the patient has been diagnosed with a potentially AIDS-defining event for which there often is virtually no other possible cause.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Corticosteroid Therapy Improves Outcomes in People With TB-IRIS in Placebo-Controlled Trial -- Without Excess Side Effects or Infections (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Declining Concentration of HIV in Correctional Facilities, but 20 Percent of HIV-Infected People in the U.S. Have Been in a Correctional Facility (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Anne Spaulding, M.D., M.P.H., and Matthew Page, M.P.P.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Early Expiration May Be Cause of Unusually High False-Positive Rates on OraQuick Rapid HIV Tests, Study Finds (February 11, 2009)
Experts have long been mystified by the sporadic clusters of false-positive results when using the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test. But Shelley Facente, M.P.H., and other researchers in California may have found the culprit: The tests appear to significantly lose their specificity as they near their expiration date.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Half of HIV/HCV Co-Infected Early Responders Are Cured of HCV With 72-Week Treatment (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Hepatitis C Transmission Among HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men Is Occurring Primarily in Men Older Than 35 (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Sarah Fishman.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
High Adherence May Become Less Essential the Longer a Patient Maintains Viral Suppression on HAART, Findings Suggest (February 11, 2009)
Maximum adherence should always remain a goal when taking HAART. However, patients with sustained viral suppression on HAART are highly likely to maintain that viral suppression even in the face of adherence rates much lower than 95%, reports David Bangsberg, M.D., M.P.H.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
High HIV Prevalence Found Among Male Partners of Thai Sex Workers (February 11, 2009)
Using a unique (and highly effective) means of recruitment, Neha Shah, M.D., M.P.H., colleagues discovered HIV prevalence rates of 20% or greater among male clients of female sex workers in Thailand. Among non-paying partners of those sex workers, Shah et al noted only slightly lower prevalence rates -- as well as inconsistent levels of condom use.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
High Prevalence of Obesity, Dyslipidemia and Inflammation Seen in Behaviorally Infected Adolescent Women (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Kathleen Mulligan, Ph.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in HIV-Infected Men Safe in Small Study (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Kathryn Childs.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Highlights of CROI 2009 (February 11, 2009)
A discussion with Pablo Tebas, M.D., Rob Camp and Bob Munk, Ph.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
HIV on Par With Smoking, Diabetes as Risk Factor for Atherosclerosis, Large Study Finds (February 11, 2009)
Carl Grunfeld, M.D., Ph.D., and Colette Smith present new findings from a pair of massive studies that explore factors associated with cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients. Dr. Grunfeld's data suggest that HIV itself is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis -- a far greater risk, in fact, than any that may be posed by the use of antiretrovirals.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
HIV Vaccine Development in 2009: Looking Back (and Forward) (February 11, 2009)
Mitchell Warren, the head of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, talks about the current state of vaccine development. He explains why, in his opinion, hope on the vaccine front is far from lost.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
HIV-Infected Women Who Breast-Feed Face No Greater Risk of Mortality Than HIV-Infected Women Who Formula Feed, Study Finds (February 11, 2009)
It's a rare look at the impact of breastfeeding versus formula feeding on the health of HIV-infected women (as opposed to their newborn children): Shahin Lockman, M.D., presents data from a randomized trial finding no difference in mortality between the two feeding methods -- although there did appear to be a trend toward greater inflammation and CD4 decline among breastfeeding women.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
HIV-Positive People Might Benefit From Early Treatment, Study Presented at CROI Indicates (February 11, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Hormonal Contraception Use Has No Impact on HIV Disease Progression, Large Cohort Analysis Finds (February 11, 2009)
In an analysis of a cohort of more than 4,000 HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive women in Africa and Thailand, Elizabeth Stringer, M.D., et al found that use of any type of contraceptive appeared to have no impact on the risk of death or the likelihood of becoming eligible for antiretroviral therapy.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Hospitalization and Disability Are Higher Amongst HIV Patients With Hepatitis C Coinfection (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
HPV, Anal Cancer and Cervical Cancer in HIV-Infected People (February 11, 2009)
Joel Palefsky, M.D., discusses an important study he presented at CROI 2009 regarding the link between anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer, and also brings us up to speed on the methods by which these lesions can be prevented and treated.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Kaletra Superior to Nevirapine-Based ART for Women Already Exposed to Single-Dose Nevirapine (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Language Impairment May Be More Common Than Previously Thought in Perinatally HIV-Infected Children, Study Suggests (February 11, 2009)
One-third of 178 perinatally HIV-infected children scored low on language assessments in the 12-site prospective cohort study, explained Mabel Rice, Ph.D. There appeared to be a relationship between risk of secondary language impairment and any of three factors at study enrollment: CDC Class C; viral load >400 copies/mL; and CD4+ percentage <25%.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Many HIV-Infected Women Do Not Receive Cervical Cancer Screenings Nearly Often Enough, U.S. Study Suggests (February 11, 2009)
Despite the importance of annual cervical cancer screenings for HIV-infected women, 23% of a 2,400-woman nationwide sample reported no Pap smear within the past year, according to data presented by Alexandra Oster, M.D. Three factors were associated with an increased risk of missing a screening: age; CD4 count below 200; and receiving a pelvic exam from someone other than their HIV care provider.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Maternal Resistance to Nevirapine Following Single Dose Reduced by AZT/ddI or One Month's ART (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Number of HIV-Infected Women Giving Birth in U.S. Increased 40% From 2000 to 2006, Estimates Show (February 11, 2009)
An estimated increase in the number of HIV-infected women giving birth in the U.S. from 2000 to 2006 is encouraging, but it also raises concerns about the evolving epidemic, according to data presented by Suzanne Whitmore, Dr.Ph.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Rapid HIV Antibody Testing May Have Limitations in a Population With High Incidence of HIV (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Joanne Stekler, M.D.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Risk for Invasive Anal Cancer High Among HIV-Positive People (February 11, 2009)
From Project Inform
Ugandan Study Supports the Use of Fluconazole to Prevent Cryptococcal Meningitis (February 11, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Untreated HIV Infection Is Associated With Impaired Arterial Elasticity (February 11, 2009)
An interview with Jason Baker, M.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Up to Half of HIV-Infected Patients on Effective HAART Still Ultimately Develop Neurocognitive Impairment, Study Finds (February 11, 2009)
Igor Grant, M.D., presents new data from the CHARTER study indicating that, although the prevalence of dementia is significantly down in the modern treatment era, 40% to 50% of HIV-infected patients on effective HAART will still eventually develop some form of neurological impairment -- and in most cases, the impairment will impact their day-to-day lives.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
5% or More of Perinatally HIV-Infected Adolescents May Be Long-Term Nonprogressors, U.S. Study Suggests (February 10, 2009)
In what may be the first study of its kind, Rohan Hazra, M.D., offers data suggesting that a significant proportion of HIV-infected U.S. adolescents, all of whom were infected with HIV at birth, were able to remain off antiretroviral therapy for at least six months without experiencing any noticeable degree of disease progression.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Acyclovir: The Next New HIV Drug? (February 10, 2009)
From Project Inform
Antidepressants Can Significantly Reduce Viral Load by Improving Adherence Among Homeless or Marginally Housed Patients, Study Says (February 10, 2009)
Antidepressant use had a small (.8 log) but statistically significant effect on viral load reduction among 418 homeless and marginally housed adults who had initiated HAART, found Alexander Tsai, M.D., Ph.D., et al. However, that benefit vanished after adjusting for adherence, suggesting that improved adherence was the reason behind the viral load reduction, not a biological effect of antidepressant use.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Drugs Are Found to Block HIV in Monkeys; Pills, Gel May Help Protect Women (February 10, 2009)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Experimental Microbicide Shows Small Level of Protection Against HIV for Women, Study Presented at CROI Indicates (February 10, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Failure to Prevent AIDS Infections Spurs Renewed Hunt for Cure (February 10, 2009)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin May Reduce Latent HIV Reservoir in Resting CD4+ Cells, Study Suggests (February 10, 2009)
A five-day course of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin appears to somehow activate replication-competent HIV in the resting CD4+ cells of patients on HAART, ultimately leading to a reduction in those patients' latent HIV reservoirs, according to the results of a nine-patient study presented by Magnus Gisslén, M.D., Ph.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
HIV-Infected Patients Who Have the ApoE4 Allele Are More Vulnerable to the Effects of Low CD4 Counts (February 10, 2009)
An interview with Kalpana Kallianpur.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
IL-2 Immunotherapy Fails to Benefit HIV-Infected Individuals Already Taking Antiretrovirals (February 10, 2009)
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Maternal HAART Use During Breastfeeding Can Significantly Reduce Mother-to-Child Transmission Among Women With Low CD4+ Cell Counts, Study Finds (February 10, 2009)
Women with a CD4+ cell count below 250 can reduce their risk of vertical HIV transmission during breastfeeding by taking HAART, according to a study conducted in Malawi by Taha Taha, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues. However, infant prophylaxis should be discontinued during breastfeeding if the mother is on HAART, Dr. Taha suggested, to avoid potentially dangerous drug levels in the infant.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Overall Estimate of People Living With HIV in the U.S. Grows: 21 Percent, Mostly Minorities, Undiagnosed (February 10, 2009)
An interview with Michael Campsmith, D.D.S., M.P.H.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Peripheral Neuropathy Still Common Among HIV-Infected Patients on HAART; Risk May Increase With Age (February 10, 2009)
A metastudy of ACTG trial participants finds peripheral neuropathy prevalence of greater than 20% among patients initiating HAART -- a proportion that increases as patients age, despite maintaining a CD4+ cell count above 350 and a viral load below 400, and despite declining use of didanosine and stavudine. Study presenter Scott Evans, Ph.D., also notes that neuropathy usually occurred without patients experiencing any pain whatsoever.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Sudden Drop Observed in Transmitted HIV Drug Resistance Among Cohort of Recently Infected San Francisco Patients (February 10, 2009)
Vivek Jain, M.D., presents data from a cohort of 266 patients with acute and early HIV infection, among whom a sudden drop in the prevalence of transmitted HIV drug resistance occurred in 2008 -- dramatically reversing a general upward trend over the previous four years.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Anti-HIV Gel Shows Promise in Large-Scale Study in Women (February 9, 2009)
From National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
During First 45 Days Post HAART Initiation Patients Hospitalized Most Often for Non-AIDS-Defining Infections (February 9, 2009)
An interview with Stephen Berry, M.D.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Ever Upward: "When to Start" Debate Turns to CD4+ Cell Count of 500 (February 9, 2009)
Dueling studies -- one presented by Mari Kitahata, M.D., the other by Jonathan Sterne, M.D. -- offer strikingly different views on the benefits of HAART initiation at a CD4+ threshold of 500. However, both appear to solidify the wisdom of starting therapy before CD4+ cell count drops below 350.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Gilead Announces Data Demonstrating Pharmacokinetic Boosting Activity of GS 9350 (February 9, 2009)
From Gilead Sciences, Inc.
High-Dose Tenofovir Microbicide Completely Protects Monkeys (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
HIV Sporadically Detectable in Semen of Men With Undetectable Plasma Viral Loads (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Human Trial of Microbicide Gels Finds Promise for PRO 2000, Not for BufferGel: Press Conference Transcript (February 9, 2009)
Salim Abdool Karim, M.D., Ph.D., reveals that PRO 2000 appeared to confer 30% protection compared to placebo in women using the gel as a vaginal microbicide, though the results failed to reach statistical significance. Meanwhile, another microbicide candiate, BufferGel, failed to show any protective effect whatsoever.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Human Trial of Vaginal Microbicide Gel PRO 2000 Finds Some Level of HIV Protection (February 9, 2009)
Salim Abdool Karim, M.D., Ph.D., reveals that PRO 2000 appeared to confer 30% protection compared to placebo in women using the gel as a vaginal microbicide, though the results failed to reach statistical significance. Meanwhile, another microbicide candidate, BufferGel, failed to show any protective effect whatsoever.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Innovative Rapid HIV Test Appears to Detect Acute HIV; OraQuick Rapid Saliva Tests Found to Be Not Very Accurate for High Risk Testers (February 9, 2009)
An interview with Chris Pilcher, M.D.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Intermittent Oral PrEP May Be as Effective as Daily Oral PrEP for Prevention of Rectal HIV Transmission, Macaque Study Suggests (February 9, 2009)
Gerardo Garcia-Lerma, Ph.D., presents data from a macaque study utilizing a unique method of pre-exposure prophylaxis: oral tenofovir/emtricitabine administered just once prior to exposure, followed by a second dose shortly after exposure.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Jens Lundgren, M.D., Discusses New Findings Regarding MI Risk of Specific Antiretrovirals (February 9, 2009)
The latest data from D:A:D indicate that lopinavir/ritonavir does increase myocardial infarction risk, but efavirenz, nevirapine and tenofovir do not. In this interview, Jens Lundgren, M.D., and HIV advocate Jeff Berry take part in a fascinating discussion on the new findings and their possible underlying causes.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Microbicide Reduces HIV Infections by 30 Percent in First Success for Field (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Potentially Infectious Levels of Intermittent HIV Shedding Can Occur in Seminal Fluid Despite Years of Suppressive HAART, Research Suggests (February 9, 2009)
Prameet Sheth and Anne-Genevieve Marcelin, Pharm.D., Ph.D., offer the latest salvo in the fervent debate triggered by the release of the so-called "Swiss statement" in 2008. These findings suggest that a male patient can experience spontaneous, periodic shedding of HIV into his seminal fluid despite having consistently undetectable viral load levels in his blood.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
PrEP Could Work Even if Taken Several Days in Advance (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Risk of Cancers With Infectious Cause Going Down in People With HIV (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Seminal HIV: Cell-Free Virus, Not Infected Cells, Leads to Transmission Between Men (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
Test Can Predict Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in People With HIV (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
The Next Generation of Boosters: Promising Data on Potential Alternatives to Ritonavir (February 9, 2009)
Brian Kearney, Pharm.D., of Gilead Sciences Inc., and Robert Guttendorf, Ph.D., of Sequoia Pharmaceuticals discuss encouraging findings from early human trials on a pair of pharmacokinetic enhancers whose utility could potentially extend far beyond protease inhibitor boosting.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Topical PrEP Comparison: Tenofovir Alone May Be as Effective as Tenofovir/FTC, Study Finds (February 9, 2009)
Walid Heneine, Ph.D., explains the results of a study in macaques which found that a topical gel offered complete protection against SIV infection -- regardless of whether that gel contained tenofovir alone or tenofovir in combination with emtricitabine.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
When to Start HIV Treatment: Cohort Studies Disagree on How Early (February 9, 2009)
From aidsmap.com
An Update on the Present -- and Future -- of HIV Eradication (February 8, 2009)
Robert Siliciano, M.D., is one of the world's foremost researchers on the topic of HIV eradication. We caught up with him at CROI 2009 to discuss recent developments in the field, which has suddenly experienced somewhat of a renaissance of late.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
The Next Stage of HIV Eradication: Finding the Secret Reservoirs (February 8, 2009)
In adherent patients on fully suppressive HAART, viral replication has completely stopped, says Robert Siliciano, M.D., Ph.D. But the virus still lurks persistently in reservoirs -- one whose identity is known, and at least one whose identity remains a mystery.
In 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO
Why Expanding Global HIV Treatment Access May Face an Uncertain Future (February 8, 2009)
HIV treatment access has taken great strides in the developing world over the past several years, but significant obstacles lie ahead as we attempt to continue that trend, explains Alex Coutinho, M.D.
In The 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, from The Body PRO

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