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Ask Dr. Kaiser Question: I believe that I was recently infected with HIV. Yourbook says this is one of the only times that you recommend starting medications. Does this mean that once I start I must stay on these medications? Dr. Kaiser replies: I think you ask a very important question. I will reprint a bit of background info from my book and then get back to answering your specific question below. If you are relatively sure that you have been exposed to HIV within the past six months, you should be very aggressive with your treatment and start a triple combination antiviral drug regimen as soon as possible. The reason for this departure from my usual conservative treatment guidelines is that HIV infection behaves differently during the first few months of the infection compared to when the infection has matured. During the first few months of HIV infection the virus is rapidly extending itself throughout the immune system. It is infecting CD4 cells at a very fast rate. These are the cells the immune system needs to remain healthy in order to control the infection later on. If a large percentage of them become HIV-infected, as occurs within the first few months after initial exposure, the immune system's ability to manage the infection over the long term becomes compromised. This is why HIV is such a challenging virus for the immune system to control. The cells it needs to control it progressively become infected and destroyed. However, if triple combination antiviral therapy is begun at a point before HIV fully extends itself throughout the CD4 cell line, the immune system gains a great advantage. It can retain its ability to effectively fight the infection and, in combination with antiviral drugs, possibly eradicate it completely from the body. This is an exciting possibility. And given what we currently know about how HIV behaves, it would be a shame not to act aggressively in this situation. An acutely suppressed HIV infection behaves much differently than one which has extended itself far into the body. To answer the question of "would I need to stay on these drugs indefinitely?," the answer is probably not. The last patient whom I treated aggressively for acute retroviral syndrome was able to discontinue his antiviral therapy after 14 months and his CD4 count remains >750 cells/cc3 with a viral load of below 3,000 copies/ml. He has been off meds for over six months. I would call this a success. I have also been experimenting recently with other methods to allow people with chronic HIV infection to discontinue their antiviral therapy (as long as their CD4 count is greater than 500 cells/cc3) and only utilize medication for brief pulses as needed. The bottom line to the success of these techniques is that you must follow an aggressive natural program concurrently. That means twice daily vitamin supplements, optimal intestinal health and hormone balance, and a healthy diet and lifestyle. These natural treatments help support you body's own immune system and insure the success of your overall program. Good luck. Check out our Message Board! |
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