This study involved 146 HIV-positive individuals recruited at JCRC. This randomized trial evaluated the effects of continuous vs 2 approaches to short cycle intermittent ART on viral load. We evaluated both the 7 days on-HAART/ 7 days off-HAART as well as a 2 days off HAART/ 5 days on-HAART approach.
Secondary study objectives included changes in CD4 T-cell count, virus resistance patterns, toxicity and side effects, quality of life and adherence. Interrupted therapy was expected to minimize toxicity/ side effects and reduce costs.
In the study, structured treatment interruptions of 5 days on and 2 days off treatment were found to be equivalent in outcomes to continuous treatment. The results of this study inspired the development of the PENTA 16 (BREATHER) trial in adolescents, where JCRC is the only African centre, as described below.
The project also has stored samples that may be used to answer additional questions. Scholars may benefit from these ready to use samples.
