HIV treatment interruptions ‘may be safe’

Although antiretroviral therapy is considered the most effective treatment for HIV/Aids, new research suggests pauses in treatment could be safe.

Published in the August edition of The Lancet, the study suggests a possible benefit to taking breaks from antiretroviral therapy as a way to mitigate the serious side-effects of the treatment, which can include liver damage.

The two-year study divided patients into two groups, with one group continuing the treatment without interruption and the other taking periodic breaks.

When the CD-4 count of those taking breaks dropped below 350, treatment was reintroduced.

“The group that had interrupted treatment had less side-effects from treatment, but had some minor effects from the HIV virus,” said lead author, Bernard Hirschel.

“[However,] the group that continued treatment had less effect from the virus, but more side-effects,” he added.

The World Health Organisation recommends that in resource-limited environments, antiretroviral therapy should be initiated irrespective of the CD-4 count.

Although the study suggests that treatment breaks may be a safe method of mitigating the side-effects of drug therapy, the study’s authors admit that conflicting evidence exists and that further research is needed.

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