title: Adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection.
abstract: Long-term remission of HIV-1 disease can be readily achieved by combinations of antiretroviral agents. The suppression of plasma viral loads to less than the limit of quantification of the most sensitive commercially available assays (i.e., less than 50 copies/mL) and the coincident improvement in CD4 T cell counts is associated with resolution of established opportunistic infections and a decrease in the risk of new opportunistic infections. However, prolonged treatment with combination regimens can be difficult to sustain because of problems with adherence and toxic effects. All antiretroviral drugs can have both short-term and long-term adverse events. The risk of specific side effects varies from drug to drug, from drug class to drug class, and from patient to patient. A better understanding of the adverse effects of antiretroviral agents is of interest not only for HIV specialists as they try to optimize therapy, but also for other physicians who care for HIV-positive patients.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Montessori
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents