Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to the development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Patients are assigned to hierarchical groups I to IV according to the highest group for which they meet the criteria and can only move to higher groups as they develop new signs and symptoms of HIV infection. In fact, as a result of the immunodeficiency that is associated with HIV infection even before the development of overt AIDS, patients typically present with repeated bouts of common illnesses, such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, angular chelitis, shingles, onychomycosis, sinusitis, or asthma. Levels of viral replication appear to be set at an early time point, following primary infection. Counts below 200 cells/mm are associated with increased risk of opportunistic infection and rapid disease progression. Recent data from several clinical trials conclusively demonstrated that a treatment reduction in plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load is associated with a decrease in the rate of disease progression.