Treating HIV right away, before patients are too sick, dramatically lowers their chances of spreading the AIDS virus to a sexual partner, says a major international study that may convince more doctors to offer medication sooner.
The nine-nation study offers convincing evidence of what scientists have long believed — that HIV medicines don't just benefit the patient, but may act as a preventive by making those people less infectious. Earlier treatment in the study meant patients were 96% less likely to spread the virus to their uninfected partners, according to preliminary results announced Thursday by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which oversaw the research.
