[Good results after twenty years of team work in the care of patients with HIV infections and AIDS].
Since 1985 there has been a multidisciplinary HIV-team at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. 209 HIV-positive patients have been treated at our clinic for shorter or longer periods. Our HIV-team consists of two physicians, one nurse, two counsellors and one psychologist. During the years we have built a network of different medical specialists who we contact depending on the current problem. The work has changed dramatically during these twenty years. When we started there were hardly any antiretroviral drugs available, and our main tasks were to deal with the psychological stress of having a death-threatening and contagious disease and to diagnose and treat opportunistic infections. Today we have 20 different registered antiretroviral drugs, which are given in combinations. This has significantly decreased the morbidity and mortality of HIV infection. However, significant constraints to therapeutic success still exist, like toxicity and resistance. Today 81 patients are registered at our clinic. The overall CD4 status among the patients is very good and 85% of the patients who are receiving HAART have undetectable HIV-RNA.
Bergbrant
Ing-Marie
IM
Hud- och könssjukvård, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, Göteborg. ing-marie.bergbrant@vgregion.se
Olsson
Marie
M
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016896:Treatment Outcome