Aggressive ARV treatment 'could slash HIV rates'
08/07/2008
Rolling out aggressive antiretroviral (ARV) programmes for HIV-positive individuals could dramatically reduce the number of new infections, new research has suggested.
According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, HIV transmission could be cut by as much as 60 per cent if more sufferers received the lifesaving treatment.
Scientists from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/Aids used a complex mathematical model to determine what impact expanding access to ARV treatment would have on future cases.
"Bottom line, we showed that no matter how you configure it, the more people you treat, the more infections you prevent," commented lead author Julio Montaner told Toronto's Globe and Mail..
He added: "Our data is starting to generate support for the idea that treatment, as well as being a benefit to patients, can also be effective in preventing Aids cases in the future."
Dr Montaner explained that heightened access to ARV treatment lowers infection rates because the drugs dramatically reduce viral loads, thereby lessening the chance that the disease will be transmitted.
And he stressed that in addition to the obvious human benefits of lower prevalence rates, such programmes would also entail a significant economic payback - which could be especially advantageous for developing countries.
"This study provides additional motivation to bring treatment to the people and ultimately engage them in receiving it," the scientists argued. "There is now a clear, direct incentive to do so.
"Not only is it right to provide it for these people, it is also tremendously cost effective."
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