How to Use Immune- Based Therapies to Treat HIV/AIDS

Most therapies for HIV/AIDS attack the virus that causes AIDS to stop it from replicating. Now, however, researchers are studying immune-based therapies to strengthen the immune system and make it better able to resist infection and fight off HIV if the body does become infected. Several promising therapies and vaccines are currently under study. Read on to learn how to use immune-based therapies to treat HIV/AIDS.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Understand the difference between current available treatments and immune-based therapies. As several researchers have pointed out, any contest requires both an offense and defense. If the antitretroviral therapies that attack HIV are the offense, then the immune system that strengthens the T-cells and makes them less vulnerable to infections is the defense.

2. Learn about the immune-based therapies currently under study. An excellent place to start out are the fact sheets on the AIDS website. See the Resources section below for a link.

3. Keep abreast of current issues in HIV/AIDS treatment by signing up for the weekly newsletter on the AIDS Info website, a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. See the Resources section below for a link.

4. Talk to your doctor to see if he or she thinks an immune-based HIV/AIDS therapy is right for you. If you are already infected with HIV/AIDS, some immune boosters, such as vaccines, will not be useful for you.

5. Find a clinical trial. As of this writing, immune-based therapies against HIV/AIDS are in their infancy and can only be received by participants in clinical trials. The National Institute of Health's Clinical Trials database offers more information on research studies and a search engine that allows you to search for clinical trials by location, condition and type of treatment. See the Resources section below for a link.

Tips & Warnings

• Some immune-based therapies are designed to treat HIV/AIDS, but others, like vaccines, are designed to prevent it. Many clinical trials can use HIV negative volunteers. If you have tested negative for HIV but are in a high risk group or just want to help in the fight against AIDS, this is one very helpful step you can take.
• As with all other medications to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS, it is important to follow you immune-based therapy regimen to the letter. New drugs are of little use when not taken properly.
• Remember that AIDS still has no cure. Immune-based therapies represent an important step in the fight against AIDS, but they are not an excuse to stop practicing universal precautions and safer sex.

Resources

• Fact Sheets About Immune Therapies on AIDS.org
• Find a Clinical Trial on ClinicalTrials.org
• Sign up for AIDS Info Newsletter

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