Effect of long-cycle structured intermittent versus continuous HAART on quality of life in patients with chronic HIV infection.

Objective: To examine the effect of repeated, long-cycle structured intermittent versus continuous HAART on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and symptom distress in patients with chronic HIV infection and plasma HIV RNA of less than 50 copies/ml.

Design: Prospective survey of adult patients (n = 46) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial evaluating intermittent versus continuous HAART on immunological and virologic parameters. Patients (n = 23) randomized to structured intermittent therapy received serial cycles of 4 weeks on/8 weeks off HAART.