When to start ART in adults? The results of HPTN 052 move us closer to a test-and-treat policy

oleh: Nathan Geffen

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: AOSIS 2011-09-01

Deskripsi

When is the best time to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adults? This is a vital question in HIV treatment and prevention services. More specifically, is the 350 cells/µl CD4 count threshold recommended by current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines sufficient, or should we move to a ‘test-and-treat’ approach in which anyone who tests HIV-positive is offered ART, irrespective of their CD4 count? The recently announced results of the HPTN 052 trial take us closer, but not all the way, to a test-and-treat approach.