American scientists have discovered that HIV can evade drug attacks by hiding in the intestines.
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| HIV attacks the immune system |
Even when blood tests indicate that treatment methods against virus spread have proven effective, the virus continues to multiply in the intestines, suppressing immune function.
The research team at the University of California, USA, suggests that HIV patients should be monitored through intestinal biopsies as well as blood tests.
This is the first study to show that while current HIV treatments are successful in reducing the viral load and increasing immune cells to combat infections in peripheral blood, they are not truly effective in the intestinal tract.
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Dr. Satya Dandekar |
Dr. Satya Dandekar and the team followed 10 patients treated with HAART therapy.
They collected blood and intestinal fluid samples from patients before and after three years of treatment. Three patients were treated very early, within 4-6 weeks of being infected, while others had been infected for at least one year before treatment.
Patients treated early showed fewer signs of intestinal inflammation before treatment and had a greater recovery of immune function in the intestines after treatment compared to other patients.
Dr. Dandekar explained: “We found that just a small delay in treatment allows the virus to hide in the intestines and escape the effects of the drugs.” The results will help identify better treatment options for HIV-infected patients.
M.T
