To treat or not to treat? No longer a question.
Evaluation of: Violari A, Paed FC, Cotton MF et al.: Early antiretroviral therapy and mortality among HIV-infected infants. N. Engl. J. Med. 359(21), 2233-2244 (2008). Violari and her colleagues report the first randomized, open-label trial showing that early diagnosis and treatment with antiretroviral therapy decreases mortality and HIV progression in HIV-infected infants. The reality of implementing this recommendation into clinical care is challenging in resource-poor countries. Support for earlier diagnosis and access to antiretrovirals is improving, but access to HAART for all HIV-infected infants and children is often lacking. A change in care systems advocating early institution of antiretroviral therapy for all infants in these developing countries is clearly needed.
SUNY Stony Brook, HSC T11 Room 030, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. cbeneri@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Christy A
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Beneri
Sharon
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Nachman