HIV Health News

Facial Wasting Treatment Nears Approval

On March 25th, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory group voted 9--0 in favor of approving Sculptra to treat facial wasting in people with HIV. The FDA will likely follow with formal approval in the near future. Sculptra is an injectable substance (polylactic acid) that causes the body to make collagen to fill in areas of fat loss in the face. Results from studies have been impressive, with high patient satisfaction, although the treatment is not permanent. Common side effects are pain at the injection site and small lumps under the skin. Sculptra, made by Dermik Laboratories, has been approved as New-Fill in Europe since 1999 for general cosmetic uses such as filling in wrinkles; pending U.S. approval would be only for HIV-related fat loss.

New Rapid HIV Test Approved

On March 26, the FDA approved a test for HIV antibodies using saliva instead of blood that can give results in 20 minutes. The new OraQuick test does not use needles; instead, a saliva sample is collected using a swab with a pad at one end. A result showing that a person is HIV positive must be confirmed with a Western blot test. The OraQuick antibody test can be done without special equipment but has not been approved for home use.

Crystal Meth and Syphilis

Rising rates of crystal meth use and syphilis infection are spurring health officials and community advocates to better educate gay men about these health hazards. Crystal meth (methamphetamine, Crystal, Tina) is a drug that causes feelings of ecstasy and can trigger sexual arousal for long periods. People on crystal meth often relax inhibitions and forgo safer sex. The drug can be highly addictive, and its growing popularity with gay men, especially those in the club scene and those who seek out anonymous sex, has HIV prevention experts worried. For more information, see www.tweaker.org. At the same time, new cases of syphilis among gay and bisexual men have recently shot up at rates not seen since the early 1980s. Many of the new cases are in HIV positive men. Not only does syphilis increase the chances of passing on HIV to a partner through genital sores, but it might also speed up HIV disease progression. Public health officials are encouraging sexually active gay men to be tested for syphilis and other STDs. Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics. For more information, visit www.sfcityclinic.org.