Is antiretroviral therapy recommended in patients with primary HIV-1 infection?
To date, there is no evidence of long-term clinical benefit to support the routine use of antiretroviral therapy in primary infection. It has been proposed that early treatment may be important in preserving HIV-1-specific immune responses. Individuals who present with severe or prolonged symptoms may benefit from therapy, although the optimal duration of therapy remains to be determined. The potential benefits of early treatment should be balanced against the possible problems of drug toxicity, compliance and emergence of resistance. Trials are currently under way to assess treatment of early HIV-1 infection and, whenever possible, patients should be offered the opportunity to enter these trials.
