Early treatment, the key to remission

A major step forward in the fight against HIV

The Find the latest On the treatment of HIV this opens a new horizon in the fight against the virus. A recent study conducted by renowned researchers from the Pasteur Institute, CEA, Inserm, Paris City University and Paris-Saclay University in collaboration with the Cochin Institute sheds critical light on the importance of this. Initial treatment In the management of HIV.

A window of opportunity for forgiveness

This research was published on January 11, 2024 Nature CommunicationsIt reveals A window of opportunity For antiretroviral treatment. Initiation of treatment Four weeks after infection

is crucial for long-term control of the virus even after stopping treatment. This strongly underlines the significance of the results Early detection and rapid intervention.

The Visconti Study: A Master Reference

A study by the Visconti cohort, involving thirty subjects, demonstrated the possibility. Permanent remission In people living with HIV. These individuals, who were treated early and for many years, were able to control their viremia well after treatment interruption, sometimes for more than 20 years. This landmark study, dating from 2013, already suggested the benefits of early treatment, a hypothesis that current research supports.

Scientific approach and rigorous methodology

To reach this conclusion, the researchers used a primate model of SIV infection, which allowed for strict control of variables such as gender, age, genetics and virus strain. They compared individuals treated rapidly after infection with individuals in the chronic phase or untreated. result, Reproducible

clearly indicating that early treatment is crucial for post-treatment viral control.

World AIDS Day: December 1, 2023

Effects of early treatment on the immune system

Another key aspect of this study is the effect of early treatment on the immune response. promotes the development of Memory CD8 T cellsMore effective against the virus, thus allowing better control of viral rebound after stopping treatment.

Clinical and social implications

The implications of these findings are major. At the individual level, early treatment limits the diversification of the virus in the body and optimizes the immune response. Collectively, these reduce the risk of HIV transmission. These results are all the more important because because of late detection, treatment is often not started until years after infection.

Towards new therapeutic advances

This promising advance is now guiding the development of new immunotherapies targeting immune cells involved in remission of HIV infection. This pioneering work, resulting from the p-VISCONTI study and supported by MSD Avenir and ANRS MIE, marks a decisive turning point in the fight against HIV.

This study highlights the critical importance of early intervention in HIV treatment. It opens up new perspectives for future treatments and reinforces the importance of awareness and early detection.