Side of Logo AETC National Resource Center Home Side of Logo Top of Banner
Search Web site
Spacer
space space
space
space

Is antiretroviral treatment of primary HIV infection clinically justified on the basis of current evidence?

Smith DE, Walker BD, Cooper DA, Rosenberg ES, Kaldor JM. AIDS 2004 Mar 26;18(5):709-18.

Go to PubMed entry

Reviewed by Susa Coffey, MD

Comment

Although treatment of primary HIV infection can effectively improve surrogate markers of virologic and immunologic activity, it is not clear that early treatment results in long-term clinical benefit.

This article evaluates the literature on treatment of primary HIV infection and reviews issues of importance on the subject, such as potential advantages and disadvantages of early treatment, effects of short-term treatment, and effects on viral set-point and disease progression. It describes a heterogeneous group of studies that provide suggestive but contradictory results. Unfortunately, none of the studies reported to date has an appropriate design or sufficient power to answer fundamental questions about the treatment of primary HIV. The authors of the article conclude: "Based on currently published data, there is no clear evidence that patients with access to antiretroviral therapy have any greater clinical benefit if therapy is introduced immediately during or prior to their seroconversion illness."

    space

Copyright 2010, the AIDS Education & Training Centers National Resource Center, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Email webmaster@aidsetc.org with questions, comments, or problems. See disclaimer for usage guidelines.