Early ART Reduces the Size of the HIV Latent Reservoir

Initiating ART during primary HIV infection decreases the size of the latent reservoir more than initiating ART during chronic infection, but the effects on T-cell activation are the same.

The HIV latent reservoir is established early in infection and plays a key role in the persistence of virus despite long-standing antiretroviral therapy (ART). Experts have hypothesized that strategies to decrease the size of the HIV reservoir will reduce chronic T-cell activation and its associated long-term health consequences, bringing us one step closer to ART-free viral control.

In this open-label, nonrandomized study, researchers evaluated the effects of a raltegravir-based regimen on viral decay in 16 treatment-naive patients: 8 with primary HIV infection and 8 with chronic infection. Fifteen patients underwent colonic biopsies at both study entry and completion (52 weeks). Statistical significance was evaluated only when testing for …

Reviewing Author

Jonathan Z. Li, MD

Early ART Reduces the Size of the HIV Latent Reservoir

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Reviewing Author