ABSTRACT
HIV is a chronic infection taking on average 8 to 10 years before an infected patient develops symptomatic AIDS. By this late stage severe damage has occurred to the cell-mediated arm of the immune system and recurrent opportunistic infections and tumours occur, prior to death within 1 to 2 years. This depressing scenario has been transformed over the past 5 years with the introduction of effective combination anti-retroviral therapy resulting in, if not cure, at least prolonged suppression of viral replication and its associated clinical benefits. To balance against this we have become increasingly aware of the potential for drug resistance, side effects and drug interactions, which may limit the appropriateness and effectiveness of these agents.
