More Evidence that Treatment Interruptions Are Not SMART

Intermittent antiretroviral therapy results in inferior CD4-cell recovery and increased rates of opportunistic infections and death, compared to continuous therapy.

Randomized trials have previously shown that intermittent or interrupted antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with adverse outcomes, including inferior CD4-cell recovery and increased risk for both HIV-associated infections and non-HIV events (JW AIDS Clin Care Aug 21 2006 and Nov 29 2006). However, follow-up in these studies was relatively short. Now, investigators from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study have described the long-term effects of treatment interruptions.

A total of 2491 patients were followed for a median of 7.1 years after they initiated potent ART. For this analysis, they were grouped according to time spent off therapy and extent of virologic control:

Group A: 1271 patients who interrupted ART for at least 1 month (median inte…

Reviewing Authors

Yasir Ahmed, MD

Helmut Albrecht, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Leadership positions in professional societiesColumbia Medical Society; South Carolina Infectious Diseases Society

Helmut Albrecht, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Leadership positions in professional societiesColumbia Medical Society; South Carolina Infectious Diseases Society

More Evidence that Treatment Interruptions Are Not SMART

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Reviewing Authors