Treatment Is More Livable – Take Advantage of It!
As they are developed, newer anti-HIV drugs are gaining strength to fight against the virus, says a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine. It’s a good thing, as the beleaguered Martha Stewart might say. Potency is key to treatment success.
Witnessing the day-to-day reality of people trying to cope with HIV infection, we are equally encouraged with another kind of progress being made: Treatment is getting easier to live with. Yes, keeping viral levels down – hopefully undetectable – is important. But if the cost in side effects, drug reactions, “pill burden,” and difficult regimens is too great (and viral resistance develops anyway), then ultimately the treatment is a failure. That’s where we see gratifying practical progress.
And yet, despite easier, more effective treatment options, over a third of those who know they are HIV-infected are not in care!
Making responsible choices about behavior is still critical, because HIV/AIDS is still a serious disease, and will probably be fatal to many of those infected. To those who already have risk in their lives, we urge, “Get tested!” To those who are HIV-positive, we say, “Get into care.” There’s a long way to go, but significant progress is being made take advantage of it!
(For study details, see New England Journal of Medicine, June 27, 2002.)
This article appears in July 5 • 2002.