Beginning HIV treatment drugs immediately following diagnosis could significantly slow down the virus’s spread, says a new study from researchers at the Imperial College London. For the study, researchers examined 366 patients who were recently diagnosed with the condition.
Currently, HIV treatment drugs are issued once the CD4 T-cell count, a part of the immune system, drops below 350 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. For the study, some of the patients began taking treatment medication within twelve weeks of diagnosis while, some began once the CD4 count fell below 350 and others began within 48 hours of diagnosis.
Lead researcher Jonathan Weber said that those who started in 48 hours “end up with much higher CD4 cell count and a much lower viral load,” adding they “Also, the benefit persists after you’ve stopped treatment,” he added.
This study adds to increasing evidence that early initiation of HIV treatment is of benefit to the individual in preventing severe disease and in reducing infectiousness to his or her partners.
Their data appears in the New England Journal of Medicine this month.
by RTT Staff Writer
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