Open AccessCan we trust the guidelines? Comparison between the data presented and the recommendations of the International Antiviral Society‐USA Panel
Author(s) -
Jan Piso Rein
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the international aids society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.724
H-Index - 62
ISSN - 1758-2652
DOI - 10.7448/ias.17.4.19766
Subject(s) - medicine , guideline , antiviral therapy , antiretroviral therapy , panel discussion , family medicine , intensive care medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , chronic hepatitis , viral load , pathology , immunology , virus , business , advertising
Clinicians often do not have the time and possibilities to read all scientific evidence necessary to maintain high quality patient care. They rely on guidelines made by experts to help them in their daily work. Methods We compared the 2012 recommendations and the arguments of the IAS‐USA Panel with the data referenced and presented with the original data of the studies. Special topic was the timing of antiretroviral therapy. Only studies included in the guideline text were analyzed. Results There is a large discrepancy between the data and the recommendations concerning early antiviral therapy. The studies are either not designed to answer this question or the data is not sufficient to support the arguments. The authors highlight benefits without mention of side effects or other problems. Neither in transmission rates, nor mortality, AIDS events, co‐morbidities (hepatitis B and C excluded) or decreasing the risk of malignancy, the data presented support early therapy. Conclusions A large discrepancy between the underlining data and the recommendation made by the IAS‐USA Panel exists concerning early antiviral therapy.