MICR 2340 Chapter Notes - Chapter 29.14: Reverse-Transcriptase Inhibitor, Integrase, Hiv-1 Protease
Document Summary
The prognosis for an untreated hiv-infected individual is poor, as opportunistic pathogens or malignancies kill those infected eventually. Although the rate of decline varies from one hiv-infected individual to another, it is rare for an hiv positive individual to live for more than 10 years without anti-hiv drug therapy. Several drugs have been developed that delay the progression of hiv/aids and significantly prolong the life of those infected with hiv. Therapy is aimed at reducing the viral load of hiv-infected individuals to below detectable levels. The strategy to accomplish this is called highly active anti-retroviral therapy (haart) and is carried out by administering at least three anti-retroviral drugs at once to inhibit the replication of hiv and prevent the development of drug-resistant strains. Multiple drug therapy, however, is not a cure for hiv infection. Those who have no detectable viral load after drug treatment a significant load will return if therapy is interrupted or discontinued or if multiple resistance develops.
