The annual conference of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) was held in Melbourne in November. This article summarises some key developments.

The sudden cancellation of a large HIV clinical study has significant implications for how we treat HIV. KIRSTY MACHON reports.

With the SMART trial making treatment interruptions a much less attractive option for people with HIV, we take a look at one man’s experience of taking a break from treatments.

The 13th annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) took place in Denver, Colorado, from February 5 to 8. The major breaking news from this conference was the premature cancellation of the SMART study, but as usual, this important conference produced a great deal more than a single story.

HIV-related news in brief from the June-July 2005 edition of Positive Living.

!(thumbnail)/files/2003-6-06_ashm-thumb.jpg( )! The annual conference of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) is Australia’s only regular HIV medical conference. PAUL KIDD reports on the latest medical developments discussed at this year’s conference in Cairns.

The major international AIDS conference for 2003 has ended with encouraging signs of growing international commitment to fight AIDS in the developing world, and with several promising medical developments.

HIV-related news in brief from the June-July 2003 edition of Positive Living.

p(standfirst). Going on holiday is also a time when many people consider taking a break from treatment — sometimes also called a drug holiday.

Sometimes it is easier for some people to stop taking their pills altogether rather than having to plan ahead with doctors’ certificates or sending the treatments beforehand for collection upon arrival. If you plan to stop taking your HIV medications while you travel, it is best to stop taking the whole combination of drugs all at once.