title: [Antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus infection: an update].
abstract: Since the onset of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the care of infected patients improved dramatically. Whereas the disease was almost always fatal, the development of new drugs and new therapeutic strategies now allow a prolonged survival. However, the complexity of patient care is increasing and physicians face new clinical events and treatment toxicities. Recent molecules and follow-up according to the recent French recommendations will be presented here. The objectives of the treatment is to decrease mortality and morbidity of the HIV infection, by restoring near normal CD4+ T cell counts and qualitative T CD4+ responses, associated with a sustained reduction in viral replication. This objective must be reached by minimizing toxicity of antiretroviral drugs. Newly developed drugs that are better-tolerated and new therapeutic classes should improve outcome at all stages of HIV infection. Whereas viral eradication remains unrealistic and protective vaccines will not be soon available, direct consequences of long term HIV infection and issues related to an ageing HIV infected population raise up new research topics. Prevention of new infections, improvement in the precocity of care by a better-targeted screening and assessment of therapy before an established immune deficiency appear as the main priorities for the coming years.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne et de maladies infectieuses, CHU de Bicêtre, 78, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94275 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaix
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goujard
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents