Treatment of primary HIV infection

In this thesis we studied the treatment of PHI. Early cART transiently lowered the viral setpoint and deferred the need for restart of cART during chronic HIV infection, which was most likely caused by the effects of the CD4 gain during treatment and the transient lowering of the viral setpoint. Even though the exact mechanisms explaining the lowering of the viral setpoint after early cART remain unsolved, we observed a clear clinical benefit of temporary treatment during PHI. In case early cART is considered, it should be given for a duration of 24 weeks and contain a boosted PI, at least until resistance testing results are available.