HIV therapy can help prevent partner from contracting virus, says study
A study shows that anti-HIV medications can suppress the viral load of those living with the condition. Not only that, it will also provide durable protection against heterosexual transmission.
The findings revealed that when an HIV-infected person began antiretroviral therapy(ART) at a higher CD4 cell count, it resulted in an overwhelming 93 percent reduction of HIV transmission.
As per Myron S. Cohen of the University of North Carolina, USA who is the lead author of the study, it confirms the urgent need to treat those with HIV infection as soon as the infection is diagnosed to protect their health as well as public health.
The paper which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that the results help galvanize a global commitment to a universal “treatment as prevention” plan to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The study which was initiated in 2005 had enrolled 1,763 HIV-serodiscordant couples(one of the persons would have HIV). The study encompassed 13 sites spread across nine countries that included India.
97 percent of the couples considered were heterosexual. Those infected with HIV were randomly assigned to start ART at the start of the study when their immune system was relatively healthy or later when it declined.
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