ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to a state ofCD4lymphopenia and generalized immune activation with the subsequent development of opportunistic infections and malignancies. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically improved the clinical outcome for HIV-infected patients, but exposes the patients to multiple drugs and can be associated with immune restoration phenomena. Itching is a very common symptom in this population and can have multiple etiologies. Although generally tolerable and controllable, it can be a serious problem for the individual patient, greatly diminishing the quality of life and, in extreme cases, leading to suicidal ideation (I).
