There is uncertainty concerning the optimal time to begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) for asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with CD4+ cell count > 500 cells/mm3. The Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) is an international randomized trial designed to determine whether initiation of ART at CD4+ counts > 500 cells/mm3 (immediate or early ART) is superior in terms of morbidity and mortality to deferral of ART until the CD4+ declines to 350 cells/mm3 (deferred ART). With this proposal, investigators in the International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT) will complete follow-up of 4,685 HIV-positive participants already randomized in the START trial; databases will be finalized following study completion; biological specimens will be centrally stored; participants on ART will be transitioned to local sources from the central drug repository; and 10 papers will be prepared for submission to major medical journals. One of these papers will summarize the primary results of the trial and be submitted for publication immediately following study closure. Findings of START will also be presented at scientific conferences.

Public Health Relevance

There is uncertainty concerning the optimal time to begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) for asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with CD4+ cell count > 500 cells/mm3. The Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) is an international randomized trial designed to determine whether initiation of ART at CD4+ counts > 500 cells/mm3 (immediate or early ART) is superior in terms of morbidity and mortality to deferral of ART until the CD4+ declines to 350 cells/mm3 (deferred ART). (End of Abstract)

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project with Complex Structure Cooperative Agreement (UM1)
Project #
5UM1AI120197-02
Application #
9129596
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-G (M2))
Program Officer
Palmer, Robert C
Project Start
2015-08-19
Project End
2018-07-31
Budget Start
2016-08-01
Budget End
2017-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$29,418,022
Indirect Cost
$1,515,495
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Wright, Edwina J; Grund, Birgit; Robertson, Kevin R et al. (2018) No neurocognitive advantage for immediate antiretroviral treatment in adults with greater than 500 CD4+ T-cell counts. AIDS 32:985-997
Schlusser, Katherine E; Sharma, Shweta; de la Torre, Pola et al. (2018) Comparison of Self-report to Biomarkers of Recent HIV Infection: Findings from the START Trial. AIDS Behav 22:2277-2283
Dharan, Nila J; Neuhaus, Jacqueline; Rockstroh, Juergen K et al. (2018) Benefit of early versus deferred antiretroviral therapy on progression of liver fibrosis among people with HIV in the START randomized trial. Hepatology :
Grady, Christine; Touloumi, Giota; Walker, A Sarah et al. (2017) A randomized trial comparing concise and standard consent forms in the START trial. PLoS One 12:e0172607
Baker, Jason V; Sharma, Shweta; Grund, Birgit et al. (2017) Systemic Inflammation, Coagulation, and Clinical Risk in the START Trial. Open Forum Infect Dis 4:ofx262
Baker, Jason V; Sharma, Shweta; Achhra, Amit C et al. (2017) Changes in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors With Immediate Versus Deferred Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among HIV-Positive Participants in the START (Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment) Trial. J Am Heart Assoc 6:
Hodgson, Shane; Griffin, Timothy J; Reilly, Cavan et al. (2017) Plasma sphingolipids in HIV-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMJ Open Respir Res 4:e000180
Hoy, Jennifer F; Grund, Birgit; Roediger, Mollie et al. (2017) Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection Accelerates Bone Loss Relative to Deferring Therapy: Findings from the START Bone Mineral Density Substudy, a Randomized Trial. J Bone Miner Res 32:1945-1955
Lifson, Alan R; Grund, Birgit; Gardner, Edward M et al. (2017) Improved quality of life with immediate versus deferred initiation of antiretroviral therapy in early asymptomatic HIV infection. AIDS 31:953-963
Borges, Álvaro H (2017) Combination antiretroviral therapy and cancer risk. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 12:12-19

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