Investigating The Impact Of Starting Hiv Drugs Within Days Of Infection

Despite effective HIV medication, nan immune strategy of group pinch HIV remains disrupted successful nan agelong term. Researchers astatine Amsterdam UMC investigated whether this dysregulation tin beryllium prevented by starting HIV medicine instantly aft infection – i.e., wrong a fewer days.

They saw that six months aft this early treatment, nan immune strategy did so activity arsenic successful group without HIV. But successful nan longer term, nan immune strategy was disrupted again. This is shown by investigation by Amsterdam UMC, published successful nan diary EBioMedicine.

Early curen protects immune systems only temporarily

For this study, nan scientists examined nan immune strategy of men pinch HIV who started taking HIV medicine instantly aft infection (acute HIV infection) and compared it pinch group who started taking HIV medicine later – successful nan chronic phase. The immune strategy was besides compared pinch that of group without HIV. The researchers chiefly looked astatine nan domiciled of definite immune cells, alleged monocytes, which are important for nan first defence against viruses.

The investigation shows that group who commencement taking HIV medicine successful nan acute shape still person a well-functioning immune strategy successful nan beginning. This immune consequence is akin to that of group without HIV. But 3 years aft nan commencement of treatment, nan immune cells person go dysfunctional, humor tests show. The cells past nary longer respond arsenic they do successful patient people: nan accumulation of important pro-inflammatory proteins decreases.

Important find for HIV attraction and research

This uncovering is striking, because until now it was thought that starting HIV inhibitors very early really prevents imperishable harm to nan immune system. However, nan existent results show that this advantage is only temporary. Godelieve de Bree, internist-infectiologist astatine Amsterdam UMC: "Our investigation shows that aft an acute HIV infection, location is simply a constricted play successful which nan immune strategy still responds normally, but that this protection disappears complete nan years, moreover pinch successful treatment. This makes it clear that successful HIV infection and treatment, it is important to proceed to look for ways to protect nan immune strategy successful a genuinely sustainable way."

Theo Geijtenbeek, professor of immunology astatine Amsterdam UMC, besides emphasizes nan value of this discovery.

This is really new. Our results show that early curen does supply impermanent benefit, but that aft a fewer years dysregulation still occurs successful nan immune system. Our results show that nan alleged 'window of opportunity' successful which nan immune strategy responds good is astir apt only successful nan first months aft infection."

Theo Geijtenbeek, Professor, Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Center

Impact for curen and follow-up research

This requires caller curen systems that besides protect nan immune strategy successful nan longer term. Further investigation must show why this happens, and really this disruption tin beryllium prevented. "These insights are applicable for early HIV treatment," says de Bree. "We must attraction connected amended protection of nan immune system, moreover aft nan first period."