title: [Human immunodeficiency virus infection].
abstract: Decisions regarding initiation or changes in antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV-1 infection should utilize plasma HIV RNA(viral load) assay and drug resistance assay. These laboratory tests give the physician important information about the virologic and immunologic status of the patient and risk of disease progression to AIDS. Testing for drug resistance to antiretroviral drugs may help to maximize the benefits of antiretroviral therapy. Genotyping assays detect drug resistance mutations and phenotyping assays measure the ability of viruses to grow in various concentrations of antiviral drugs. The presence of drug resistance and failure of antiretroviral therapy should be identified by these two assays.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Medical University, Kasumigaura Hospital.
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukue
authors.forename: Tuyosi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oishi
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral