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A study by federal researchers offers encouraging news for AIDS patients on antiretroviral medication. The researchers found that a small group of patients was able to successfully follow a drug regimen of one week on and one week off antiretroviral medications. This may mean that AIDS patients on the powerful combination drug regimen can take week-long vacations from the regimen and still control HIV.

In the study 10 HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were selected. All participants had low levels of the virus with high levels of CD4. Patients took HAART in the standard way that they had taken the regimen before for seven days and then stopped for seven days for up to 88 weeks. Serological tests indicated that the virus levels were maintained at the suppressed level in all patients who stayed with the schedule. Two patients were dropped from the study failing to take the drugs as required.

Some side effects were reduced in the experimental group. Cholesterol levels dropped by an average of 22 percent, and triglyceride levels were decreased by 50 percent.

Researchers said that it is clear that the current group of antiviral drugs can control HIV infection, but not cure the virus. Once the drugs are halted for more than a week, the infection can come roaring back. Researchers cautioned against trying a drug-cycling regimen without close medical supervision.

Editor's Note: from the New York Times