HIV infection in adults: a therapeutic update.
BACKGROUND
This article is designed to update physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers on therapeutic advances concerning human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a review of the pathophysiology of HIV infection as well as an update on current guidelines, acute infection, medications, adherence, and monitoring. Recommendations regarding treatment in pregnancy and postexposure prophylaxis will also be discussed. Lastly, the impact on managed care will be considered. Treatment of and prophylaxis against opportunistic infections is not reviewed in this article.


OBJECTIVE
1. Review the basic pathophysiology of HIV. 2. Discuss the implications of acute HIV infection. 3. Update guidelines concerning initiation of drug therapy and appropriate monitoring of drug therapy. 4. Discuss ways to increase adherence. 5. Discuss dosing, adverse effects, and drug interactions concerning the current medications available for the treatment of HIV. 6. Review treatment recommendations in pregnancy. 7. Review treatment recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. 8. Discuss the impact of HIV infection on managed care.
Thornton
C W
CW
University of Tennessee-Memphis, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacoeconomics, USA. cthornton@utmem.edu
Corbett
C
C
Brown
R
R
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D015215:Zidovudine