Structured treatment interruption

Structured treatment interruption refers to planned ‘drug holidays’ or breaks from antiretroviral therapy. Treatment breaks have numerous real or theoretical benefits, and some early research suggested they might hold promise for certain patients .

However, over the past few years, several studies have shown that treatment interruption, particularly when guided by CD4 cell counts, can be a risky strategy, leading to viral load rebound, CD4 cell decline, and an increased risk of clinical disease progression.

Yet, some studies have produced more favourable outcomes and the reasons for the conflicting results are not entirely clear. Given the inconsistent research to date and the potential risks of the strategy, UK and US treatment guidelines do not recommended treatment interruptions outside the setting of clinical trials.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.