Health
Continuous therapy better at keeping HIV in check
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 6, 2006
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases halted enrollment in the Strategies for the Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy trial in January because early data indicated overwhelmingly that taking HIV medications without interruption was far safer than the alternative.
This large international trial, involving 33 countries and 6,000 participants, was established to determine the best course of treatment for those infected with HIV. After 15 months, those randomized to receive "episodic therapy" -- taking medication when CD4+ counts dropped below a certain level -- had twice the risk of death and of developing full-blown AIDS as well as an increased incidence of cardiovascular, kidney and liver disease.
"The SMART trial reached a conclusion much earlier than we expected," said James Neaton, PhD, the study's chief statistician and a professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
"That is the significant value and potential power of conducting such a large trial."
The study was launched to definitively answer whether treatment interruptions, considered a possible option to reduce the significant cost and side effects associated with antiretroviral therapy, actually could lead to better outcomes. Researchers intend to continue to follow participants.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/02/06/hlbf0206.htm.
