[Possibilities and limits of antiretroviral actual therapy].

Abstract

The therapies now approved for HIV-infection inhibit one of two viral-specific enzymes, reversetranscriptase or protease. Combining this drugs into regimes based on at least three individual drugs--so-called HAART--has resulted in a remarkable reduction in HIV-associated morbidity and mortality. Despite these therapeutic advances, many patients are either intolerant of available agents or develop virologic failure. Problems of adherence, drug-resistance, latent reservoirs and drug-induced toxic effects that compromise effective viral control point to need for new strategies (e.g. structured treatment interruptions--STIs) and new classes of anti-HIV drugs with different modes of action (e.g. blocking HIV entry into human cells or fusion process). The use of adjunctive immune-based therapy such as IL-2 may permit more extensive immune restoration.

• Authors: Andra Teodor, D Teodor, V Luca
• Journal: Revista medico-chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi (Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi) 2002 Oct-Dec Vol. 106 Issue 4 Pg. 680-3 ISSN: 0048-7848 [Print] Romania
• Vernacular Title: Posibilităţi şi limite ale terapiei actuale antiretrovirale.
• PMID: 14974210 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
• HIV Reverse Transcriptase

Topics

• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active (methods)
• HIV Infections (drug therapy)
• HIV Reverse Transcriptase (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Humans
• Immune Adherence Reaction
• Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)