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| HIV 'hides from drugs for years' | HIV 'hides from drugs for years' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| HIV can survive the apparently effective onslaught of antiviral drugs for years by hiding away in the body's cells, research shows. | HIV can survive the apparently effective onslaught of antiviral drugs for years by hiding away in the body's cells, research shows. |
| The US National Cancer Institute found low levels of dormant HIV in patients seven years after they started - and responded well to - standard therapy. | The US National Cancer Institute found low levels of dormant HIV in patients seven years after they started - and responded well to - standard therapy. |
| The finding confirms patients must take drugs indefinitely, and that any break runs the risk of rekindling infection. | The finding confirms patients must take drugs indefinitely, and that any break runs the risk of rekindling infection. |
| The study features in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | The study features in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
| People with HIV need to take treatment indefinitely because current drugs cannot reach this pool of dormant virus Keith AlcornNAM | People with HIV need to take treatment indefinitely because current drugs cannot reach this pool of dormant virus Keith AlcornNAM |
| The researchers followed 40 patients infected with HIV for seven years. | The researchers followed 40 patients infected with HIV for seven years. |
| Doctors do not usually record infection levels once the number of HIV particles falls below 50 per ml of blood. | Doctors do not usually record infection levels once the number of HIV particles falls below 50 per ml of blood. |
| However, the NCI team used highly sensitive equipment to measure infection levels below this threshold. | |
| They found that the virus was still present at low levels in 77% of the patients. | They found that the virus was still present at low levels in 77% of the patients. |
| The research suggests that although potent antiretroviral therapy can suppress HIV infection to almost undetectable levels, it cannot eradicate the virus. | The research suggests that although potent antiretroviral therapy can suppress HIV infection to almost undetectable levels, it cannot eradicate the virus. |
| Renewed risk | Renewed risk |
| The researchers said that even though levels of the virus that remain are low, they are high enough to rekindle infection if treatment is interrupted. | The researchers said that even though levels of the virus that remain are low, they are high enough to rekindle infection if treatment is interrupted. |
| The risk of infecting others is low, but cannot be ruled out. | The risk of infecting others is low, but cannot be ruled out. |
| They believe HIV may be harboured by CD4+ cells, which play a role in the immune system. | They believe HIV may be harboured by CD4+ cells, which play a role in the immune system. |
| These cells are most likely infected before therapy was initiated and the amount of virus they produce is small. | These cells are most likely infected before therapy was initiated and the amount of virus they produce is small. |
| Researcher Dr Sarah Palmer said: "It is extremely important that new drugs are developed to eradicate HIV infection as the side effects associated with long-term HIV treatment can be severe." | Researcher Dr Sarah Palmer said: "It is extremely important that new drugs are developed to eradicate HIV infection as the side effects associated with long-term HIV treatment can be severe." |
| She also warned that failing to take prescribed medication raised the risk that HIV could begin to develop resistance, rendering future treatment less effective. | She also warned that failing to take prescribed medication raised the risk that HIV could begin to develop resistance, rendering future treatment less effective. |
| Keith Alcorn, of the HIV information service NAM, said scientists were looking at approaches to treatment that could flush out HIV from cells. | Keith Alcorn, of the HIV information service NAM, said scientists were looking at approaches to treatment that could flush out HIV from cells. |
| He said: "This research shows that, for the time being, people with HIV need to take treatment indefinitely because current drugs cannot reach this pool of dormant virus. | He said: "This research shows that, for the time being, people with HIV need to take treatment indefinitely because current drugs cannot reach this pool of dormant virus. |
| "If treatment stops, this pool of virus provides the basis for a rapid rebound in virus levels." | "If treatment stops, this pool of virus provides the basis for a rapid rebound in virus levels." |
| Mary Lima, a treatment advisor at the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "This study only highlights the complexity of HIV and why it's so difficult for us to find a cure. | Mary Lima, a treatment advisor at the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "This study only highlights the complexity of HIV and why it's so difficult for us to find a cure. |
| "It's important we find out as much as possible about how HIV acts over long periods of time, so we can continue to develop new treatment strategies to tackle it. | "It's important we find out as much as possible about how HIV acts over long periods of time, so we can continue to develop new treatment strategies to tackle it. |
| In order to keep people with HIV well for longer, we need to attack the virus at all stages." | In order to keep people with HIV well for longer, we need to attack the virus at all stages." |