|
HIV is the abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and describes a number of different kinds of viruses which attack the human immune system and which have been shown to cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. |
|
HIV is the abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and describes a number of different kinds of viruses which attack the human immune system and which have been shown to cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. |
TreatmentPatients today are given a rather complex regime of drugs which attack HIV at various stages in its life cycle. These are known as [antiretroviral drugs]?. They include: * [Protease inhibitor]?s (PIs) inhibit production of protease?, an enzyme used directly by HIV, and so prevents virus replication. * [Reverse transcriptase inhibitors]?s (RTIs) inhibit production of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV needs to reproduce. Lack of this enzyme prevents HIV from building RNA and DNA. They come in three forms: ** [Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor]?s (NNRTIs) ** [Nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor]?s (NARTIs) ** [Nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor]?s (NtARTIs?) There are many problems involved in establishing a course of treatment for HIV. Each effective drug comes with side effects, often serious and sometimes life-threatening in themselves. Common side effects include extreme nausea? and diarrhea?, liver damage and jaundice?. Any treatment requires regular blood tests to test for continued efficacy (in terms of T-cell? count and [viral load]?), and liver function. |
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)