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Antiretroviral therapy: Shifting sands
V K Sashindran1, Rajeev Chauhan2
1Professor, Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
Medical Journal, Armed Forces India
|February 23, 2016
Summary
Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV transforms the pandemic into a manageable chronic condition. This approach benefits individual health, reduces transmission, and proves cost-effective for communities.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- HIV/AIDS remains a significant global pandemic.
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has shifted HIV management towards a chronic illness model.
- Traditional ART initiation criteria based on CD4 counts are evolving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of early ART initiation on HIV patient outcomes.
- To explore the community benefits of widespread ART access.
- To discuss advancements in HIV prevention, treatment, and potential cures.
Main Methods:
- Review of current evidence on ART initiation strategies.
- Analysis of studies on the clinical, economic, and social impacts of early ART.
- Examination of emerging HIV prevention and cure research.
Main Results:
- Early ART initiation, regardless of CD4 count, significantly improves patient morbidity and mortality.
- Early ART reduces HIV transmission rates within communities.
- Providing ART to all HIV-positive individuals is cost-effective and promotes societal growth.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary approach centered on early ART initiation is crucial for controlling the HIV pandemic.
- Advances in pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis further mitigate transmission risks.
- Ongoing research into vaccines and novel therapeutics offers hope for an HIV cure.
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