23 October 2009

At the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, 222 Euston Road, London, NW1

• Programme
• Background Reading

Programme

Background Reading

HIV-infection in the brain, neurocognitive dysfunction and CNS drug penetration
Even though general interest in the effect of HIV on the brain and neurocognitive function has fallen off since the introduction of HAART as a result of reduced number of cases, it has renewed recently with reports that can help us to have a deeper insight into the mechanisms HIV uses to affect the central nervous system (CNS).
http://i-base.info/htb/2563

Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) Label Changed to Reflect Potential Risk of Heart Rhythm Abnormalities
On April 6, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that prescribing information for lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) tablets and oral solution had been changed to reflect new warnings and precautions regarding QT/QTC interval and PR interval prolongation, types of changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/2009/041009_c.html

ageing articles

ageing with HIV Lessons from CROI 2009 by Victor Valcour, M.D.
Some of the world’s leading HIV researchers converged on Montreal in February of this year for the 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). This year’s conference continued to document the unfolding world-wide access to antiretroviral therapy, with large advances noted, despite some set-backs. These accomplishments rightly find their place centrally in the agenda for this premier international conference. The conference also relayed new findings on the risk factors for HIV and non-HIV-related complications. Presentations related to new therapies were less frequent and research related to vaccines continued to detail great challenges.
http://positivelyaware.com/2009/09_03/print/aging_with_hiv.shtml

Fact Sheet 616 Older People and HIV
About 29% of all people with AIDS in the United States are 50 or over. In 2001, this proportion was 17%. In some cities, as many as 37% of people with AIDS are in this age group. The number of older people diagnosed with AIDS is increasing. About half of the older people with AIDS have been infected for one year or less. It is important to note that most of these numbers are based on information from 33 states in the US.
http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/616?print=true

Older Women and HIV/AIDS Facts June 2008
Jane P. Fowler compiled much of this tip sheet, based primarily on personal perspectives and experiences of consumers and professionals, while she was co-chairperson of the National Association on HIV Over Fifty. Now director of the national HIV Wisdom for Older Women program.
http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art48358.html?ts=pf

Responses to Treatment in Older Adults By Andrew Shippy Summer 2004
Many of the illnesses common among older people are related to the ageing process. As people age, their bodies aren’t able to repair and rebuild damaged cells (organs, tissues) as rapidly as those of younger people. So, what does this mean for older adults with a disease like HIV that attacks and destroys the body’s defenses (CD4 and CD8 cells)? HIV-positive older adults are more likely to have additional medical problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, and more physical limitations than younger adults with HIV. In the early years of the HIV epidemic (before HAART), older adults’ health deteriorated more rapidly than that of younger individuals — regardless of CD4 count. Several studies found that older adults had lower CD4 counts at diagnosis, faster progression to an AIDS diagnosis, more opportunistic infections, and a shorter survival rate than younger adults, regardless of when they were first diagnosed with HIV.
http://www.thebody.com/content/whatis/art14281.html?ts=pf

ageing HIV population cause for concern Edwin J. Bernard, Monday, September 05, 2005
A hidden epidemic of HIV infection may be occurring amongst older individuals, suggests Dr Nathalie Casau of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, in a review article examining HIV and ageing, published in the September 15th issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. In addition, the intersection of HIV, older age, and comorbidities like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and dementia require further research as the HIV population ages due the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/67AD7FA8-3504-4006-9B1C-87BBAFC81939.asp?type=preview

Financial support

The UK-CAB receives unrestricted funding from some pharmaceutical companies towards the direct costs of holding four meetings each year. This funding supports the travel and accommodation costs for members to attend from outside London, plus the cost of catering.

The content, programme and agenda for meetings is decided by the UK-CAB steering group in consultation with the wider membership. Funding is unconnected to meeting content.

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