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Antiretroviral drugs reduce the risk of HIV infection by 96%
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Specialists of the National Institutes of Health of the USA came to the conclusion that people infected with HIV can reduce the risk of infection of their sexual partners by 96% if they start taking antiretroviral drugs immediately after the virus is detected.
According to the BBC, the study was conducted since 2005, simultaneously in 13 locations on the territory of nine countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It was attended by 1,763 couples, in each of which initially only one partner was infected with HIV.
The pairs were divided into two groups: in one, the HIV-infected partner started taking antiretroviral drugs at once, and in the second - only after the reduction of the number of white blood cells under the influence of the virus. The results of the study were so convincing that it was terminated four years earlier than planned .
All observed couples (most of them were heterosexual) were regularly tested for HIV and received free condoms. In couples where the HIV-infected partner started antiretroviral therapy immediately, only one case of transmission of the virus was documented.
In another group of couples, there were 27 cases of partner infection. According to WHO, in 80% of cases, HIV is transmitted sexually. Director-General of the organization Margaret Chan called the results of the study a very important event. "The findings of this work will further reinforce the new recommendations that WHO will issue in July to help people living with HIV protect their partners," Chan added.
Previous studies have already suggested the use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent the transmission of the virus, but this has now been proven for the first time by clinical trials, scientists say.
"International donors can no longer ignore evidence," said Keith Elcorn, a representative of the NAM charitable organization, "HIV treatment is a very powerful form of preventing the spread of the disease and can seriously affect the HIV epidemic in the countries most affected by it."