Special sessions synopses
November 7, 2019
10:00 - 12:00
The existence of the Berlin and London patients, as well as the reports on long-term control of viremia after antiretroviral treatment interruption in some individuals (post-treatment controllers) is inspiring the hope that a state of durable HIV remission is achievable. Stem-cell transplantation is nonetheless not a scalable regimen and a therapy leading to durable remission has not been identified yet. This symposium will gather experts presenting novel insights and future perspectives in the road toward a therapy for remission and cure of HIV. One major obstacle of HIV cure consists in the persistence of the virus cellular and anatomical reservoirs in people living with HIV treated efficiently with combined antiretroviral treatment. Basic aspects for our understanding of the factors underlying HIV persistence and potential novel soft spots for tackling HIV in reservoir cells will be discussed, as well as how a better fundamental understanding of immune responses during infections can contribute in the path toward HIV cure.
Presentations:
- Mechanisms of HIV persistence - Maria J. Buzón, Spain
- Cell metabolism and HIV pathogenesis - Asier Sáez-Cirión, France
- Antiviral NK cells and HIV-1 immunotherapy - Marcus Altfeld, Germany
November 7, 2019
17:30 - 18:30
Presentations:
- Major achievements in EuroSIDA: Perspective from invited expert - Alison Rodger, United Kingdom
- The role of EuroSIDA in HIV, HCV and TB research in Central East and Eastern Europe - Daria Podlekareva, Denmark
- What HIV observational cohorts have brought to the field - Bruno Ledergerber, Switzerland
- Adapting HIV cohorts to future challenges in HIV research - Jens D. Lundgren, Denmark
- Questions/Wrap-up - Gilles Wandeler, Switzerland
November 8, 2019
07:30 - 08:30
The population of older people requiring HIV care is rapidly increasing as a result of effective antiretroviral treatment and later age at infection. While complications caused by HIV are now rare, people living with HIV are at increased risk of medical conditions typically associated with ageing, including cognitive impairment and diseases of the bones, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Several models of care have been developed in response to these changing and often complex healthcare needs. During this session, we aim to consider whether models of care of managing older people with HIV are needed, describe current models of care for older people with HIV (including examples of good practice), determine key principles for the management of older people with HIV and establish the priorities of service users, and consider what recommendations for management of older persons living with HIV might be proposed for future guidelines.
November 9, 2019
11:00 - 12:45
EACS, ECDC and BHIVA are collaborating on a project initiated within the EACS Standard of Care meetings, with the objective to improve the standard of care delivered to people living with HIV across Europe and to establish a mechanism to measure and report performance against these standards at a local, national and regional level. Three topics have been proposed for the first round of auditing (Hepatitis, TB co-infection and late HIV diagnosis) and this session will include talks on all three topics, including overviews of the current epidemiology in Europe and in specific regions, relevant management standards and audit results of a pan-European pilot and national audits.
Presentations:
- Tuberculosis - Aleksandr Panteleev, Russia
- Hepatitis - Mojca Maticic, Slovenia
- BHIVA late presentation audit: What can we learn? - David Chadwick, United Kingdom
- Pilot TB audit: Where are we? - Georg Behrens, Germany
- Results of the European pilot audit on Hepatitis screening, prevention and management in people living with HIV - Ann Sullivan, United Kingdom
