A study of 2674 people who received HAART for a mean of 16
months has found no significant difference in the rate of disease progression
between those who sustained undetectable viral load (<400 copies) and those
who experienced viral load rebound after an initial period of undetectable viral
load.
After 12 months of follow-up, 83.5% of patients had achieved
undetectable viral load; 20% of the treatment naïve patients rebounded, compared
to almost 40% of the treatment–experienced patients. After 30 months, 66% of the
treatment naïve patients still had undetectable viral load, compared to 47% of
the treatment-experienced group. However, treatment changes were frequent in
both groups; almost 60% of the treatment naïve/undetectable at 30 months group
had changed at least one drug during that period. People taking saquinavir were
more likely to switch to another drug than people taking any of the other
protease inhibitors.
6.6% of people who maintained undetectable viral load for 30
months nevertheless developed AIDS or died.
Ledergerber B et al. Clinical progression and virological
failure on highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 patients: a prospective
cohort study. The Lancet 353 (9156): 863-868, 1999.