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Title
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Episodic antiretroviral therapy increases HIV transmission risk compared with continuous therapy: results of a randomized controlled trial
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objective: To compare the HIV transmission risk among patients randomized to episodic versus continuous antiretroviral therapy. Design: This was a substudy of the Strategies of Management of Antiretroviral Therapy study, in which patients were randomized to continuous versus CD4+-guided episodic antiretroviral therapy. Participants were surveyed about sexual activity and needle sharing and had laboratory testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. Results: A total of 883 patients were enrolled in this study, the mean age of the patients was 45 years, 25% were women, and 78% were on antiretroviral therapy. At baseline, 136 participants (15.4%) had high-risk behavior (vaginal or anal sex without a condom, needle sharing, or incident bacterial sexually transmitted infection). After randomization, the proportion of participants reporting high-risk behavior was stable and did not differ by randomized arm (P = 0.39). Among participants off therapy at baseline, high-risk behavior was less common 4 months after randomization among those who were randomized to start antiretroviral therapy (P = 0.03). HIV transmission risk (high-risk behavior while HIV RNA level >1500 copies/mL) with partners perceived to be HIV uninfected was higher in the episodic therapy arm (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Patients on episodic antiretroviral therapy did not decrease high-risk behavior, and because HIV RNA levels were higher, this strategy may result in increased HIV transmission. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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JAIDS. - Philadelphia, Pa
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Publication
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Philadelphia, Pa
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2008
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ISSN
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1525-4135
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Volume/pages
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49
:2
(2008)
, p. 142-150
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ISI
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000259587400005
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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