US and Canadian researchers suggests that starting HIV treatment earlier than currently recommended might have better outcomes on patients as they could live longer than previously estimated.

The International AIDS Society recommends that HIV patients delay starting on retroviral drugs until their T-cell count fall below 350 per cubic millimeter of blood. T-cells help the body fight off germs. Retroviral drugs are known to cause heart and cholesterol problems, diarrhea, nausea and other side effects.

The new study led by Dr. Mari Kitahata of the University of Washington in Seattle suggests that treatment should start when the T-cell count is between 350 and 500 because people would not only live longer but their lives’ quality would improve as well.

For the study, the researchers compared data of 5,901 patients who followed more standard treatment guidelines and did not begin treatment until T-cell counts were below 350, to 2,473 patients who began treatment when their T-cell counts were between 351 and 500.
"We found a 70 percent improvement in survival for patients who initiated therapy between 350 and 500" compared to those who followed the guidelines, Dr. Kitahata said.

The study was reported Sunday at a joint meeting of the American Society of Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Washington.

UNAIDS estimates the HIV virus has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. Currently, there are 33 million living with AIDS, 5.5 million of whom being located in South Africa. More than 6,500 new HIV infections occur daily worldwide, and about 1,000 of these in South Africa.