PMID: 15338523Sep 2, 2004Paper

Can antiretroviral therapy ever be stopped? An update

The AIDS Reader
Rachel Simmons, Robert F Siliciano

Abstract

Eradication of virus is not a reasonable goal of anti-HIV therapy because of the latent reservoir of HIV-1 in resting memory CD4+ T cells, which guarantees lifetime persistence of virus. Any drug-resistant viruses that arise and circulate for significant periods can be stored in the reservoir, limiting future treatment options, and mistakes in treatment can be "remembered" by the virus. Wild-type virus is also preserved in the reservoir and can reemerge if therapy is stopped. Since wild-type virus can be more virulent, suppression of this virus is one benefit of continuing therapy in patients who are experiencing treatment failure. If therapy is stopped, the reemergence of wild-type virus does not mean that drug-resistant virus is gone; it is still preserved in the latent reservoir. In patients who have viral suppression to below 50 copies/mL, there is still a low level of virus in the plasma, but it does not appear to be evolving. Thus, in principle, lifelong control of viral replication is possible if suppression of viremia to below 50 copies/mL is maintained.

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.