NAPWA

It can cause crippling pain in your hands and feet. It’s called peripheral neuropathy and almost a third of us with HIV have it in some form. But NEIL McKELLAR-STEWART may have found some relief. read more »

Doctor Louise answers readers' questions. In this issue she discusses treatment of syphilis. read more »

Neuropsychiatric side effects are a common problem for people on efavirenz (EFV), but a study reported last year reveals just how common they are, and how long they last.

The SENSE trial was designed to evaluate whether 12 weeks of treatment with once-daily etravirine (ETR) plus 2NRTIs would lead to fewer neuropsychiatric adverse events than treatment with efavirenz plus 2NRTIs. read more »

A Canadian study has associated abacavir, efavirenz, lopinavir and ritonavir with an increased risk of heart attackA life-threatening emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly cut off, causing the heart muscle (myocardium) to die from lack of oxygen.. The research also showed that patients with HIV had twice the risk of heart attack compared to matched HIV
negative controls. read more »

Monitoring by the Victorian Department of Health has revealed that between May 2010 and April 2011, 37 HIV positive gay men were diagnosed with hepatitis C (HCVHepatitis C virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell..) in the state, a significant increase on previous years. In at least 19 of these cases, sexual transmission of HCV was suspected by the diagnosing physician. read more »

The pooled results of two clinical trials suggest that a skin patch with the chilli pepperderived chemical capsaicin can relieve HIv-related neuropathy pain by about 30 percent. read more »

The sponsor company of Sculptra in Australia, Sanofi- Aventis, has finally had confirmation from Medicare that the two item numbers for the injecting procedure have been approved.

The company will be sending advice to relevant doctors shortly, but the expectation is that the listing will be from 1 July. read more »

Research conducted by the Kirby Institute at UNSW (formerly the National Centre in HIv epidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population. and ClinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. Research) has shown that the annual incidence of anal cancer in Australia has increased by almost 50% in the last 20 years. read more »

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections reports important advances in HIV treatments and clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. care. The 18th CROI was held in Boston in March. Neil McKellar-Stewart highlights some of the good bits. read more »

Following the successful listing of Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid) on the PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs.] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. in 2009, many people eligible for the treatment have been eagerly awaiting the listing of an item number to help cover the costs of the procedure.

While the recommendation to list the procedure was made in February last year, there is still no progress on finalising this on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. read more »