Uncontrolled studies have shown a beneficial effect after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), initiated during acute HIV infection. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of HAART, started in 2 weeks (emergency treatment) or in 2 weeks to 6 months. (early treatment) after seroconversion, on the viral load and the CD4 + T lymphocyte count after stopping treatment.

People who have not had more than 6 months since seroconversion have been offered HAART. Those who accepted treatment received emergency (n = 13) or early (n = 45) treatment for 12 weeks, after which treatment was stopped. The discontinued therapy (n = 337) did not receive medication. The HIV and RNA levels of CD4 + T lymphocytes were compared in 2 treatment groups at 24, 48 and 72 weeks after the end of treatment with the indices of the untreated group at the appropriate time after their inclusion in the study..

In the emergency treatment group, 24 weeks after treatment, a lower mean level of HIV RNA was observed (–0.48 log10 copies / ml [95% confidence interval {CI} –0, 82 at –0.13 log10 copies / ml]) and higher average CD4 + T count (112 cells / μl [95% CI 20–205 cells / μl]) compared to the group that did not receive HAART. The differences in laboratory parameters between the emergency therapy group and the control group at 72 weeks were as follows: HIV RNA level - 0.35 log10 copies / ml (95% CI of - 0.91 to 0.21 log10 copies / ml), CD4 + T cells 112 cells / μl (95% CI of - 15 to 213 cells / μl). The early treatment group had lower levels of HIV RNA compared to the control group at week 24, but these differences disappeared at week 48; the number of CD4 + T cells was higher in the early treatment group both at 24 weeks (116 cells / μl [95% CI 75-157 cells / μl]) and at 72 weeks (70 cells / μl [CI 95% 2-138 cells / μl]).

Thus, the beneficial effect of HAART began within 2 weeks of the time of seroconversion, on viral load and the number of CD4 + T cells remained 24 weeks after stopping treatment, and there was a tends to have a more lasting effect. The start of HAART at a later date was accompanied by a prolonged, albeit decreasing over time, beneficial effect on the number of CD4 + T cells, and no effect on viral load was observed 72 weeks after the end of treatment.