Reflections on a specialist HIV menopause service: Experiences of managing menopause in women living with HIV: Experiences of managing menopause in women living with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: We describe here characteristics and clinical outcomes of women living with HIV attending an HIV menopause service. METHODS: This was a retrospective case note review of women attending the monthly HIV menopause clinic from January 2015 to July 2018. RESULTS: In all, 55 women attended the service. The overall mean age was 49 years; 50% were black and 20% had a previous AIDS-defining condition. All were on antiretroviral therapy (ART); the median CD4 count was 678 cells/µL; 93% had a viral load < 50 copies/mL; 7% had previous hepatitis C infection; 27% had a history of smoking; 45% had risk factors or existing cardiovascular disease; 24% had a mental health condition. The median duration of symptoms before clinic attendance was 18 months. Vasomotor symptoms (84%), menstrual cycle changes (62%), psychological (56%) and urogenital symptoms (29%) were reported. Twenty-two per cent had early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. The mean age at attendance of women diagnosed with menopause (n = 24) was 52 years. However, their average duration of symptoms prior to review was 28 months. A total of 61% had osteopenia/osteoporosis, 73% received menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and 73% had symptomatic improvement, although 58% of these required higher doses of MHT. Median time on MHT was 10 months. Five patients had their ART modified. No serious MHT adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Menopausal hormone therapy uptake was high, with most women observing an improvement in symptoms. Comorbidities were common, highlighting the need for integrated care based on a woman's needs. The long delay from initial symptoms to treatment demonstrates the need for better access to specialist advice for women experiencing menopause.

FRAX assessment in people ageing with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: Current British HIV Association (BHIVA) guidelines recommend the use of FRAX for the routine assessment of bone fracture risk in people living with HIV over 50 years of age every 3 years. Bone mineral density measurement with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan is recommended for those with increased fracture risk (FRAX major > 10%). Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for osteoporosis in a population of PLWH aged > 50 years and assess the utility of FRAX in predicting the presence of DXA-proven osteoporosis in this cohort. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a cohort of PLWH aged > 50 years attending the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and who had a DXA scan between January 2009 and December 2018. FRAX scores were calculated using the Sheffield algorithm. Multiple regression models and Cohen's kappa values were used to assess risk factors for osteoporosis and agreement between FRAX and DXA scan results, respectively. RESULTS: In all, 744 patients were included (92.9% male, mean age 56 ± 5 years). The prevalence rates of osteoporosis (at DXA scans) and osteopenia were 12.2% and 63.7%, respectively. FRAX major was > 10% in only two patients, while 90/91 (98.9%) patients with osteoporosis had a normal FRAX score. The presence of osteoporosis was significantly associated with low body mass index and estimated glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that FRAX scores did not predict the presence of osteoporosis in our population of PLWH over 50 years of age and therefore FRAX scores may not be the appropriate tool to define eligibility to perform DXA scans in PLWH.

How recent findings on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of integrase inhibitors can inform clinical use.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review of recent published literature and data presented at scientific meetings on integrase stand transfer inhibitors (InSTIs) examines how these findings may impact on their future clinical use. RECENT FINDINGS: Elvitegravir (EVG), raltegravir (RAL) and dolutegravir (DTG) are InSTIs recommended as first-line options for treatment naive patients by the European AIDS Clinical Society, British HIV Association, International AIDS Society-USA and DHHS. InSTIs have gained a leading role in the management of HIV-1 because of increased viral suppression and maintaining undetectability with fewer side-effects.RAL 1200 mg once-daily (QD) has been shown to be noninferior to 400 mg BD, and the European Medicines Agency has approved QD RAL for review. RAL and DTG are not metabolized via cytochrome P450 (CYP) resulting in fewer drug interactions and less toxicity risk in patients receiving direct-acting antivirals and other coadministered medications.EVG is currently available as a single tablet regimen and requires cobisistat, a pharmacokinetic booster and CYP3A inhibitor to allow QD dosing. EVG will soon be available in combination with tenofovir alfenamide, which is as efficacious as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, but offers better renal and bone outcomes.DTG has a high genetic barrier to resistance and has been the subject of a number of simplification and treatment failure trials and shown promise. There are some emerging reports of neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal side-effects associated with DTG, which were not reported in clinical trials emphasizing the importance of real-life data.Carbotegravir, a long-acting InSTI, is currently in the pipeline of development. SUMMARY: All three InSTIs have impressive data on efficacy, tolerability and safety. The unique differences of each InSTI's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics lend themselves to various clinical scenarios, enabling us as clinicians to provide better patient-centred care.

United Kingdom British association for sexual health and HIV national guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis, 2020.

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) UK guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis has been updated in 2020. It offers advice on diagnostic tests, treatment and health promotion principles in the effective management of epididymo-orchitis. Empirical treatment should be started in patients with objective swelling and tenderness on testicular examination. First-line empirical treatment for sexually acquired epididymo-orchitis has changed to ceftriaxone 1g intramuscularly and doxycycline. Higher dose of ceftriaxone in line with the BASHH 2018 gonorrhoea guideline ensures effective treatment of strains with reduced susceptibility. Ofloxacin or doxycycline is recommended in patients with epididymo-orchitis probably due to non-gonococcal organisms (e.g. negative microscopy for gram-negative intracellular diplococci or no risk factors for gonorrhoea identified). Where Mycoplasma genitalium is tested and identified, treatment should include an appropriate antibiotic (e.g. moxifloxacin). If enteric pathogens are a likely cause (e.g. older patient, not sexually active, recent instrumentation, men who practice insertive anal intercourse, men with known abnormalities of the urinary tract or a positive urine dipstick for leucocytes and nitrites), ofloxacin and levofloxacin are recommended. A clinical care pathway has been produced to simplify the management of epididymo-orchitis. A patient information leaflet has been developed.

Managing menopause in women living with HIV: A survey of primary care practitioners.

Objective One in three women living with HIV (WLHIV) in the UK is aged 45-56, and therefore of potentially menopausal age. Little is known about the management of menopause in WLHIV in primary care. We aim to describe current knowledge and practice in the management of menopause in WLWH among primary care practitioners (PCPs). Methods A questionnaire-based study of 88 PCPs attending two sexual and reproductive health conferences. Results Almost all respondents (n = 87, 99%) routinely managed women with menopause-related symptoms; however, only 18 (20%) reported having managed menopause in WLHIV. Over 95% (n = 85) reported being confident in managing menopause in general, whereas less than half (n = 40) reported confidence in managing menopause in WLHIV ( p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (n = 84) felt that menopause should be routinely managed in primary care, whereas just over half thought that menopause in WLHIV should be managed in primary care (n = 50, p < 0.001). Almost all respondents (n = 85) reported concerns about managing menopause in WLHIV. Conclusion PCPs reported limited experience of and low levels of confidence in managing menopause-related symptoms in WLHIV. Nearly all PCPs had concerns about managing menopause-related symptoms in WLHIV, many stating that this should be managed outside primary care. Development of national guidance and specialised training, coupled with good liaison between HIV services and PCPs, may improve confidence in this area.