New Drug Treatment Helps Suppress HIV, HMS Study Finds

Intense anti-viral drug therapy at the onset of HIV may help stunt the progression of the virus and protect the immune system, according to a study presented yesterday in the journal Nature.

The study, which was authored by Eric S. Rosenberg, a research fellow in medicine affiliated with Harvard, found that with immediate drug treatment, people infected with HIV may be able to stay off of medicine for a longer period of time.

"The goal is to salvage the immune system before it is completely wiped out," said Bruce D. Walker, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard and the supervisor of the study.

When patients were treated with Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) at the onset of the virus, the study found that the treatment helped protect CD4 cells. These CD4 cells signal the growth of CTL cells, which can, in turn, kill HIV-infected cells.

If patients are immediately treated with HAART, their immune systems may receive enough of a boost to interrupt drug treatment for months at a time.

Sixteen patients were originally involved in the study, and all began HAART treatment within 72 hours of diagnosis. Of the 16, 15 experienced complete suppression of the virus for several weeks.

Five patients were able to take a "drug holiday" for an average of six and a half months as a result of the treatment.

"This shows us what it can take to control the virus," Walker said. "It gives us better perspective so we know what to aim for in creating a vaccine."

Walker said that currently, the study is limited to people who are still in the early stages of the virus, and have the flu-like symptoms that are associated with the onset of HIV.

He said the study could have important implications for future methods of combating HIV and AIDS.

"Using modifications, this will be able to translate into a long-term way to treat the disease," Walker said.