HIV Weekly - September 12th 2005

A round-up of the latest HIV news, for people living with HIV in the UK and beyond.

NAM is launching a new, weekly email bulletin that will provide people with, or affected by HIV, with a concise, plain English digest of the very latest HIV news.

The new digest will put news stories into their context and equip you with the knowledge to understand what the latest research might mean for your HIV treatment and care.

Information on the latest NAM treatment information resources will also be included.

The bulletin will be edited by Michael Carter, NAM’s patient information and news editor.

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HIV and the immune system

Anti-HIV treatment

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV

The premature babies of HIV-positive mothers, even though they are not infected with HIV, may be at an increased risk of developing a serious, but very rare bowel condition called necrotising enterocolitis.

A French study found that 9% of the premature babies of HIV-positive mothers developed the condition compared to 2% of the premature infants of HIV-negative mothers.

The researchers suggest that the condition may develop more frequently in the premature infants of HIV-positive mothers because of problems with immune systems of the mother or as a side-effect of AZT, a drug given to both mothers and their infants to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, the researchers emphasise the “enormous benefits resulting from the use of AZT” to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.