Structured interruption of treatment hastened disease progression in multidrug-resistant HIV.

I n t e r v e n t i o n Patients were allocated to STI (4-mo structured interruption of treatment followed by the initiation of an optimized antiretroviral regimen [selected according to the results of the genotypic and phenotypic antiretroviralresistance tests done at screening]) (n = 138) or immediate initiation of an optimized antiretroviral regimen (control) (n = 132). Treatment could be resumed in the intervention group if disease progression or a 50% decrease in CD4 count occurred before 4 months.