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START reaches recruitment halfway point
Trial of HIV treatment timing reaches recruitment
halfway point
7 February 2012
The START
study has accrued 2000 patients, halfway to its overall target
of 4000. This marks an important milestone for the study, the
findings of which could have wide-reaching implications for people
living with HIV.
START (Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral
Treatment) is investigating the best time to begin treating HIV
positive people with anti-HIV drugs known as antiretroviral
treatment or ART.
START study participants are randomised into two
groups. In the first, known as the EARLY group, patients begin
antiretroviral treatment (ART) immediately. In the other group,
known as the DEFERRED group, patients begin ART once their CD4+
cell count falls below 350 per millimetre cubed.
CD4+ cells are part of the immune system – when
the immune system is strong, the CD4 count is higher but declines
with time in people with HIV who are not taking anti-HIV drugs.
Currently it is recommended that people with HIV start anti-HIV
drugs when their CD4+ count drops to 350.
There is some evidence that HIV positive
people who are not taking HIV medicines may have an increased
chance of developing cancer or illnesses affecting the heart, liver
or kidneys. However people who take anti-HIV drugs for a long time
may have more side-effects or develop resistance to the anti-HIV
drugs. It is therefore crucial to find out whether it is better to
start taking HIV medicines as soon as it is known someone has HIV
or to wait and follow the current guidelines. The results of the
START study will be able to answer this question.
After a successful pilot phase, START has now
expanded to over 230 sites in 35 countries. It is expected
that recruitment will be completed by the end of 2012.
Further information
