Early Antiretrovirals Protect HIV Serodiscordant Couples

published on July 22, 2015 by Pam Harrison, in Medscape

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Final 10-year results from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 study — in which the HIV-positive partner in a serodiscordant couple received antiretroviral therapy to protect the negative partner from HIV transmission — confirm the superb results reported at the interim analysis 4 years ago.

"These findings demonstrate that antiretroviral therapy, when taken until viral suppression is achieved and sustained, is a highly effective, durable intervention for HIV prevention," principle investigator Myron Cohen, MD, from the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, said in a statement.

"The results are very compelling," agreed Julio Montaner, MD, from the BC Centre of Excellence for HIV/AIDS and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

"Treatment prevents disease progression, death, and virtually 100% of HIV transmission. So the road for us going forward is very clear," said Dr Montaner.

The final study results were presented here at the 8th International AIDS Society Conference.

Trials Network Study

The phase 3 randomized HPTN 052 trial was initiated in 2005. Most of the study participants — 97% of the couples — were heterosexual. The HIV-infected partner was assigned to early antiretrovirals, when CD4 cell count was 350 to 550 cells/mm³, or to delayed treatment, when the CD4 cell count was 250 cells/mm³ or less.

In addition to treatment for the infected partner, couples were provided with condoms and targeted counseling.

View the full article >>

Tags:

Julio Montaner

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Search form

Early Antiretrovirals Protect HIV Serodiscordant Couples

Search form