|
Risks and benefits of early therapy
Benefits of early therapy
• Control of viral replication easier to achieve and maintain • Delay or prevention of immune system compromise. • Lower risk of resistance with complete viral suppression. • Possible decreased risk of HIV transmission
Risks of early therapy
• Greater cumulative drug-related adverse affects. • Earlier development of drug resistance, if viral suppression is suboptimal. • Limitation of future antiretroviral treatment options.
Risks and benefits of delayed therapy
Benefits of delayed therapy
• Avoid negative effects on quality of life (i.e., inconvenience) • Avoid drug-related adverse effects. • Delay in development of drug resistance • Preserve maximum number of available and future drug options when HIV disease risk is highest.
Risks of delayed therapy
• Possible risk of irreversible immune system depletion • Possible greater difficulty in suppressing viral replication
• Possible increased risk of HIV transmission
|
• It is important to note that the risk of viral transmission still exists, and antiretroviral therapy cannot substitute for primary HIV prevention measures (e.g. Abstinace, faithfulness, condoms and safer sex practices).