Thanks to you, CRI participated in an innovative study, the results of which were just released. The START (Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment) study results show that people with HIV should start antiretroviral (ARV) therapy as soon as possible after diagnosis to avoid developing AIDS and other serious illnesses.
START is the first major randomized clinical trial to produce definitive evidence that HIV-positive people who start treatment immediately after diagnosis will be healthier and live longer. The results may lead to a change in the treatment guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization, and aid in preventing new infections worldwide.
"In addition to showing that HIV-positive people who start ARV treatment early will live longer, healthier lives, the results of this study have the potential to influence treatment policy and help with international prevention efforts. By lowering people's viral loads as soon as possible after diagnosis, we can prevent more new infections." --Dr. Hannah Bouldin Olivet, CRI's Associate Research Director and Principal Investigator of HIV Studies
In light of these findings, study participants worldwide will be notified of the results and will be offered treatment if they are not already on ARV therapy. The study will continue to gather follow-up data through 2016.
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