Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02588 PARTIAL USE OF COLPOSCOPY IN THE SAFETY EVALUATION OF A CANDIDATE MICROBICIDE

Bollen, Liesbeth*
Van De Wijgert J.**, Jones H.**, Wiwatwongwana P.***, Chaikummao S.*, Tappero J.W.*#, Kilmarx P.H.#
Thailand M.O.P.H. – U.S. C.D.C. Collaboration*; The Population Council, U.S.A.**; Chiang Rai Hospital, Thailand***; Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.A.#

Background. Colposcopy can be employed to evaluate the genital epithelium in microbicide safety trials. However, more genital findings may be identified during colposcopy than during naked-eye examination, and its partial use might bias safety outcomes.

Methods. Safety of vaginal use of Carraguard“ (3% carrageenan gel) was compared with that of a placebo gel (2.5% methyl-cellulose) in a year-long, randomized, triple-blinded study among 165 HIV-negative women recruited from family planning clinics in northern Thailand. Colposcopy was performed at enrollment, day 14, and during monthly follow-up visits at the discretion of the study nurses. The use of colposcopy by five study nurses was recorded and patterns of use in the Carraguard and placebo gel groups were compared.

Results. Study nurses reported performing colposcopy mostly to better visualize findings that were already visible by naked-eye examination. All five nurses evaluated roughly the same proportion of the 165 women enrolled in the study.

Two study nurses performed colposcopy during one-quarter of the visits or less, while the other three used it during 40-50% of visits. However, rates of colposcope use by an individual nurse did not differ by Carraguard and placebo gel group. Although women with genital findings visible by naked eye may have been more likely to undergo colposcopy and women who underwent colposcopy may have been diagnosed with more genital findings, this occurred equally in both study groups.

Conclusion. Safety outcomes were not biased by partial use of colposcopy. However, colposcopy was not systematically performed and we did not record which genital findings were only seen during colposcopy. We could therefore not evaluate the added value of performing colposcopy in the safety evaluation of a candidate microbicide, which we are currently investigating in another safety trial in Thailand.

Dr Liesbeth J.M. Bollen
Thailand MOPH - US CDC Collaboration, Ministry of Public Health, DCC7, Nonthaburi, Thailand
(Telephone) 66-2-5800669 ext 521 (Fax)   (E-mail) lbollen@tuc.or.th