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Early Viral Loads Do Not Predict Treatment Success
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Early Viral Loads Do Not Predict Treatment Success
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.