Antiretroviral management of treatment-naive patients.
Antiretroviral management of treatment-naive patients begins with the decision of when to start treatment. Current treatment guidelines suggest starting therapy in anyone with AIDS, HIV-related symptoms, or a CD4 cell count less than 200/mm3 regardless of symptoms. Starting treatment in asymptomatic patients with CD4 of more than 200 requires consideration of a number of pros and cons, and individualization is the key. Recommended first-line antiretroviral regimens consist of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors together with either a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a protease inhibitor (with or without ritonavir boosting). The goal of antiretroviral therapy is maximally to suppress viremia, enhance or improve immune function, and prevent clinical progression.
Gulick
Roy M
RM
Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. rgulick@med.cornell.edu
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral