AEGiS-ATDN: Stop This Train, I Want to Get Off! Premature treatment?

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Stop This Train, I Want to Get Off! Premature treatment?

Information Bulletin #16 - August 2002

What about those people who started treatment according to earlier guidelines? This is a thorny question many medical providers are struggling to answer. A small study took it up in Argentina. 28 people who started their HAART with CD4 counts above 350 and viral load below 60,000, with at least 6 months on HAART and current undetectable viral load stopped their treatment. An initial drop in CD4 was seen after stopping, but after a few weeks the number climbed back and stabilized close to levels before stopping, at 12 weeks average CD4 is 544, compare with 610 at start of trial. At week 24, viral load stayed within one log of their pre-treatment levels. An improvement in cholesterol levels was seen. The trial was design to re-start treatment if a participant's CD4 dropped below 350 twice in a role, so far, none have restarted at 24 weeks.

These results suggests that stopping therapy might be an option for people who have their HIV under control and high CD4 counts, especially if you are having problems with drug side-effects. Keep in mind that this is a small study, done with very careful monitoring and with people in a very specific situation. This study has also only been going on for 24 weeks, at this point not much is known about possible long-term repercussions of stopping treatment, particularly the possibility of drug resistance. If you are considering stopping HAART, don't do it on your own. You need to work with your doctor and look closely at your current health status, as well as your past experience on HAART. It can be tempting to just flush the pills down the toilet, but make sure you are not jeopardizing your chances down the road.

020810
TR020804

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, iMetrikus, Inc., John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2002. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2002. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .