Safety and Effectiveness of Short-Term Anti-HIV Drug Therapy for Recent HIV-1 Infection

About 6 months after infection, HIV viral load reaches a temporarily stable level known as virus set point. Virus set point is different for each patient and can be a predictor for disease progression. Preliminary studies indicate that early, short-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) given to people newly infected with HIV may lead to lower virus set points and preserved CD4 counts. However, the length of short-term treatment needed to balance the possible adverse effects of ART with the achievement of lower virus set point is not yet known. By lowering the virus set point and maintaining CD4 counts, the need for long-term ART may be postponed. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of a short course of ART on producing a lower virus set point in adults recently infected with HIV.

This study will last at least 28 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms. Arm A will receive ART for 12 weeks as emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC) daily and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) in tablet form twice daily. After 12 weeks, treatment will be interrupted unless the CD4 count is measured to be less than 350 cells/mm^3 on two consecutive occasions during treatment interruption. If that occurs therapy will be resumed. Participants in Arm B will receive no treatment until cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts drop below 350 cells/mm^3, indicating ART is needed. Study visits will occur at study entry, at Weeks 2 and 4, and every 4 weeks thereafter. At each study visit, a physical exam, blood collection, and completion of an adherence questionnaire will occur. Participants are encouraged to enroll in a related substudy that will evaluate HIV viral load in genital secretions.

Inclusion criteria

• Acute or recent HIV-1 infection. More information about this criterion can be found in the protocol.
• CD4 count 500 cells/mm3 or greater
• No evidence of prior or current AIDS-defining illness
• No signs or symptoms of HIV infection or AIDS-defining illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, requires ART
• Willing to use acceptable forms of contraception

Exclusion criteria

• Prior treatment with any antiretroviral drug for more than 7 days
• Use of certain drugs within 21 days of study entry
• Prior receipt of investigational anti-HIV-1 vaccine
• Ongoing therapy with systemic corticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, nephrotoxic systemic agents, immunomodulatory treatments, or investigational agents
• Known allergy/sensitivity to study drugs or their formulations
• Current drug or alcohol use or abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study
• Serious medical or psychiatric illness that may interfere with the study
• Hepatitis B infected
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding