What is the primary goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV treatment?

The primary goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the treatment of HIV is to reduce the viral load to undetectable levels. This is critical because achieving an undetectable viral load means that the amount of HIV in the blood is so low that it cannot be transmitted to sexual partners. This has significant implications for both the individual receiving treatment and public health as a whole, as it contributes to the "undetectable = untransmittable" (U=U) principle.

Moreover, lowering the viral load helps in preserving the immune system, preventing progression to AIDS, and reducing the risk of opportunistic infections. While eliminating the virus completely may be an aspirational goal, in practice, ART does not eliminate HIV; it manages the infection effectively. Preventing transmission is a positive outcome of achieving undetectable levels but is not the primary goal of the therapy itself. Managing symptoms is certainly part of comprehensive care for individuals living with HIV, but ART specifically targets the suppression of the virus.