The challenges of therapy
Unless HIV replication is controlled, trying to rebuild immune health will ultimately fail — at least most of the time. Although using therapy hinders HIV from replicating, it does not eradicate the virus from your body. Many scientists fear that it’s not possible to fully eliminate it. Others don’t share this pessimism, pointing to newer and better drugs as well as an ever-growing understanding of HIV disease and its effects on the immune system. Over time, HIV can mutate or change enough so that it’s no longer fully blocked by these drugs.
This process is called viral resistance and it can happen to some degree with all HIV drugs. However, keeping HIV under control lengthens a person’s life, and it may be possible — with truly effective therapy — to live out a normal lifespan despite HIV. Abundant evidence shows that using potent HIV therapy has dramatically lowered death rates. It has also increased life and quality of life for people living with HIV.
However, the drugs are not without their risks of side effects. When deciding on therapy, the possible short- and long-term side effects must be weighed against possible short- and long-term benefits, particularly as you consider when to start. There’s little research on using HIV drugs in the earlier stages of HIV disease. Many, if not most, people don’t have to decide this immediately after learning they have HIV.
Assessing your risk of disease progression and making decisions that you feel comfortable with are important parts of building a successful long-term HIV strategy.
Why use anti-HIV therapy
When you’re first infected with HIV, high levels of HIV replication often occur with flu-like symptoms and a decline in the number of CD4+ cells. CD4s are key cells in your immune system that maintain and direct responses against disease. They are also commonly used to measure your immune health.
Without using HIV therapy, your immune system dramatically but incompletely suppresses the virus. In most cases, CD4s return partially toward normal levels and people usually regain good health for many years. Yet, during this time an aggressive battle is waged daily between your immune system and HIV. Over time, the immune system becomes overwhelmed by HIV’s rapid and constant activity.
The relationship between your HIV levels and risk of disease progression is complicated. An influential study by John Mellors found a solid relationship between HIV levels and risk of death over time. Other research suggests that CD4+ counts better predict the risk of disease progression. However, it is well established that reducing HIV levels typically leads to a stronger immune system and better health.
Considering these points, it makes sense to slow down or stop HIV replication as much and for as long as possible. All approved HIV drugs significantly reduce HIV levels, and they almost always cause some rise in CD4+ counts. Lower viral loads and higher CD4+ counts indicate some improvement in your immune system.
Unless HIV replication is controlled, trying to rebuild immune health will ultimately fail — at least most of the time. Although using therapy hinders HIV from replicating, it does not eradicate the virus from your body. Many scientists fear that it’s not possible to fully eliminate it. Others don’t share this pessimism, pointing to newer and better drugs as well as an ever-growing understanding of HIV disease and its effects on the immune system. Over time, HIV can mutate or change enough so that it’s no longer fully blocked by these drugs.
This process is called viral resistance and it can happen to some degree with all HIV drugs. However, keeping HIV under control lengthens a person’s life, and it may be possible — with truly effective therapy — to live out a normal lifespan despite HIV. Abundant evidence shows that using potent HIV therapy has dramatically lowered death rates. It has also increased life and quality of life for people living with HIV.
However, the drugs are not without their risks of side effects. When deciding on therapy, the possible short- and long-term side effects must be weighed against possible short- and long-term benefits, particularly as you consider when to start. There’s little research on using HIV drugs in the earlier stages of HIV disease. Many, if not most, people don’t have to decide this immediately after learning they have HIV.
Assessing your risk of disease progression and making decisions that you feel comfortable with are important parts of building a successful long-term HIV strategy.
Why use anti-HIV therapy
When you’re first infected with HIV, high levels of HIV replication often occur with flu-like symptoms and a decline in the number of CD4+ cells. CD4s are key cells in your immune system that maintain and direct responses against disease. They are also commonly used to measure your immune health.
Without using HIV therapy, your immune system dramatically but incompletely suppresses the virus. In most cases, CD4s return partially toward normal levels and people usually regain good health for many years. Yet, during this time an aggressive battle is waged daily between your immune system and HIV. Over time, the immune system becomes overwhelmed by HIV’s rapid and constant activity.
The relationship between your HIV levels and risk of disease progression is complicated. An influential study by John Mellors found a solid relationship between HIV levels and risk of death over time. Other research suggests that CD4+ counts better predict the risk of disease progression. However, it is well established that reducing HIV levels typically leads to a stronger immune system and better health.
Considering these points, it makes sense to slow down or stop HIV replication as much and for as long as possible. All approved HIV drugs significantly reduce HIV levels, and they almost always cause some rise in CD4+ counts. Lower viral loads and higher CD4+ counts indicate some improvement in your immune system.
