-
Diminishment of HAART-related side effects.
One immediate effect of treatment breaks is that some side effects, such as fatigue and diarrhea, are reduced.
Viral load rebound.
As soon as anti-HIV medications leave the body, the virus begins to replicate. Viral load can shoot up sharply, often to pre-treatment levels.
Acute retroviral syndrome.
As viral load rises, it can trigger an immune response and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness. Some people experience this acute retroviral syndrome when they go off anti-HIV medications, just as many do when first infected with HIV.
CD4 cell decrease.
Typically, the number of CD4 cells begins to fall rapidly in the first weeks after a starting a treatment break, followed by a much more gradual loss over the long term. The CD4 count at the beginning of a treatment break often determines the duration of the interruption period.
HIV-associated conditions.
Falling CD4 cell count makes people taking treatment breaks more susceptible to opportunistic illnesses, such as herpes zoster (shingles), herpes simplex, and candidiasis (thrush), as well as other conditions, including thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count).
Two Promising Integrase Inhibitors in the Pipeline
Possibly the most exciting news to come out of the 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, held in Denver last February, concerned clinical trials of two experimental drugs in a new class: integrase inhibitors. If successful in further trials, integrase inhibitors could revitalize the treatment regimens of people living with multidrug-resistant HIV.
1. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2. Black Church Black Church Gilead . For more information go to: http://www.balmingilead.org/programs/weekofprayer2006/default.asp Updated Fact Sheets on African Americans and HIVU.S. 
-
Diminishment of HAART-related side effects.
One immediate effect of treatment breaks is that some side effects, such as fatigue and diarrhea, are reduced.Viral load rebound.
As soon as anti-HIV medications leave the body, the virus begins to replicate. Viral load can shoot up sharply, often to pre-treatment levels.Acute retroviral syndrome.
As viral load rises, it can trigger an immune response and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness. Some people experience this acute retroviral syndrome when they go off anti-HIV medications, just as many do when first infected with HIV.CD4 cell decrease.
Typically, the number of CD4 cells begins to fall rapidly in the first weeks after a starting a treatment break, followed by a much more gradual loss over the long term. The CD4 count at the beginning of a treatment break often determines the duration of the interruption period.HIV-associated conditions.
Falling CD4 cell count makes people taking treatment breaks more susceptible to opportunistic illnesses, such as herpes zoster (shingles), herpes simplex, and candidiasis (thrush), as well as other conditions, including thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count).Two Promising Integrase Inhibitors in the PipelinePossibly the most exciting news to come out of the 13th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, held in Denver last February, concerned clinical trials of two experimental drugs in a new class: integrase inhibitors. If successful in further trials, integrase inhibitors could revitalize the treatment regimens of people living with multidrug-resistant HIV.