title: Scaling up antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings:  adapting guidance to meet the challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review describes the evolution of WHO guidelines for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected individuals, considering the key epidemiological, scientific, programmatic, and political changes over the last decade, and highlights the major trends for the management of the HIV disease in future guidelines revisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the last few years, new evidence has emerged supporting the potential preventive benefit of ART in reducing HIV transmission. This, together with the potential clinical benefits of earlier initiation of therapy, has led to the consideration of the broader strategic use of ART, taking into account the clinical and public health benefit, and programmatic feasibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2002, WHO established its first guidelines for ART use, primarily focused on a public health approach for resource-limited settings. These recommendations were updated in 2003, 2006, and 2010, incorporating progressive changes reflecting progressive increase in the knowledge of HIV pathogenesis, development of new drugs and diagnostics, and increased experience of HIV treatment and prevention programs. The impact of several international political commitments and scale-up initiatives such as the 3 by 5 Initiative, Universal Access targets, and the Treatment 2.0 Strategy were also important drivers of the global response, increasing the treatment coverage and catalyzing the necessary environment for the establishment of operational and programmatic components for an expanded and sustainable global response to HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. vitoriam@who.int
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitoria
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003906:Developing Countries; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents