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close this bookGuidelines to Antiretroviral Drug Therapy in Kenya (WHO; 2001; 78 pages)
View the documentFOREWORD
View the documentACKNOWLEDGMENT
close this folderCHAPTER ONE: INITIATING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
View the document1.1 Introduction
View the document1.2 Guidelines to making a diagnosis of HIV infection
View the document1.3 Laboratory Diagnosis of HIV infection
View the document1.4 Goals of therapy
View the document1.5 When to start therapy
View the document1.6 Risks and benefits of delayed initiation of therapy and of early therapy in the Asymptomatic HIV-Infected Patient
View the document1.7 Antiretroviral profile
View the document1.8 What drug combination to start with?
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER TWO: MONITORING AND CHANGING THERAPY
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER THREE: PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS OF ARVS
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER FOUR: GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS IN PAEDIATRIC HIV INFECTION
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER FIVE: MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN AND PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION (MTCT) OF HIV
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER SIX: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER SEVEN: WHEN TO STOP TREATMENT (INTERRUPTIONS)
Open this folder and view contentsCHAPTER EIGHT: GUIDELINES FOR POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS
View the documentCHAPTER NINE: ACCESS TO DRUGS IN KENYA
Open this folder and view contentsAPPENDICES
View the documentBACK COVER
 

1.6 Risks and benefits of delayed initiation of therapy and of early therapy in the Asymptomatic HIV-Infected Patient

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).

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