Early Viral Loads Do Not Predict Treatment Success

Early drops in HIV viral load levels after initiating antiretroviral therapy are not predictors of the long-term success of that particular anti-HIV drug cocktail, according to a study by Massachusetts researchers published in the August 15 edition of Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The scientists studied virologic control in 71 previously untreated HIV-positive adults starting five separate protease inhibitor'based regimens; they discovered that after 24 weeks of treatment, there was no correlation between viral decay rates seen in the first few weeks of treatment and long-term viral suppression. Previous studies had suggested that initial response to anti-HIV medications could predict the long-term potency of the anti-HIV drug combination.