The Concept of Structured Treatment Interruptions in the Management of Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Disease: Where Are We Currently?

Abstract

The failure to achieve viral eradication with currently available antiretroviral agents has spawned new approaches to limiting drug exposure. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) lowers morbidity and mortality of HIV disease but cannot eradicate the virus from the body. Structured treatment interruptions (STIs) have been proposed as a strategy to minimize the toxicities of HAART while providing a mechanism to enhance HIV-specific immunity. STIs have been investigated in three distinct clinical scenarios: during acute infection, during chronic infection, and during virologic failure. However, many questions still need to be answered in controlled trials before STIs can be adopted in clinical practice.

Keywords:

• antiretroviral therapy
• human immunodeficiency virus
• structured treatment interruptions