Antiretroviral Therapy for Previously Treated Patients

Abstract

Combination therapy with three antiretroviral drugs improves the outcome of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and has led to sustained decreases in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality in North America and Europe.¹³ Long-overdue attention has recently focused on providing this lifesaving therapy to persons with HIV-1 infection in developing countries.⁴ But even under ideal circumstances, current antiretroviral therapy has substantial limitations. Foremost among them are side effects of the medications and incomplete suppression of HIV-1 replication, which allows the emergence of drug-resistant variants of HIV-1.Antiretroviral therapy is most effective the first time it is prescribed. . . .