Studies show benefits of immediate antiretroviral treatment for HIV-infected infants

Results from two studies, CHER and PREDICT, demonstrate the importance of treating HIV-infected infants in their first year. Although Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) during infancy has benefits, treatment raises numerous concerns, including side effects and drug resistance. The CHER trial tested a strategy of giving immediate ART to HIV-infected infants but stopping it after the period of infancy when the risks of HIV decreases. Results showed that infants could safely stop ART after 1-2 years and continue to fare better than those who only received treatment after showing symptoms. PREDICT examined the question of when to begin ART in children who were not diagnosed during infancy. The study compared beginning treatment immediately or delaying treatment until levels of CD4+ T cells fell to a certain threshold. Both study groups experienced comparably low rates of disease progression, while higher rates of drug toxicities and resistance were found in the immediate treatment group.