Before seroconversion: the clinical and scientific events of acute HIV infection and the immunologic benefits of treatment
17 January 2001. Related: On the web.
By Rocio Hurtado, MD, and Eric S. Rosenberg, MD
Recent evidence suggests that the timely diagnosis and effective management of acute infection may have important immunologic, virologic, and clinical implications for the subsequent course of HIV disease in infected patients. Recent studies have suggested that initiating antiretroviral treatment during acute infection may allow for the development of critical immune responses that may make it possible for individuals ultimately to discontinue therapy and achieve immunologic control of the virus.
The phase of HIV disease from the establishment of infection to the generation of virus-specific antibodies detected by ELISA and Western blot testing is known as “acute” or “primary” HIV infection. Clinically, acutely infected individuals frequently show signs of a mononucleosis-like illness. Scientifically, this stage of the disease is characterized by a high viral load and is ultimately associated with a strong host cellular immune response attempting to contain the vigorous viral replication. We have learned a great deal about acute HIV infection since it was first described in 1985. Recent evidence suggests that the timely diagnosis and effective management of acute infection may have important immunologic, virologic, and clinical implications for the subsequent course of HIV disease in infected patients.