ABSTRACT
Probably the turning point in generating a belief that there were real grounds for optimism of “therapeutic success” in the treatment of HIV infection came with the introduction of protease inhibitors (Pis) in 1995. As a component of antiretroviral therapy (ART), Pis produced a dramatic decrease in mortality and morbidity in HIV infection (Palella et a l , 1998) most clearly demonstrated by the reduction of opportunistic infections and hospital admissions. Today, a triple-drug combination regimen containing nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus Pis or non-nucleo side reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) constitutes the standard of care for patients commencing therapy (see Table 8 .1 ).
