Satish K. S1, K. Hanumanthayya2
INTRODUCTION:
HIV /AIDS are moving from high risk groups to the general population.
World leaders are keen to protect general population. World Health Organization preserved one day in a year to discuss and to disseminate the knowledge, to general population, since 1988.
World AIDS day is observed on 1st December every year.
Anti-Retro Viral Therapy reduces HIV replication. Body viral load is reduced.
Opportunistic infection is reduced. Cost of management is reduced. Patients lead productive life.
ART has changed the HIV/AIDS from a virtually death sentence to a chronic manageable disease.
Terminologies used in ART:
ARV – Anti Retroviral agents
ART – Anti Retroviral therapy
HEART – Highly effective Anti-Retro viral therapy
HAART – Highly Active Anti-Retro viral therapy
MEGA HAART - More than 6 drugs are used
Salvage Therapy - Where miscellaneous drugs like Hydroxyurea are used
Recycling Therapy - Where drugs previously used are restarted. After starting ART, patient develop Tuberculosis, rifampicin has to be started. From ART regimen tablet Nevirapine has to be stopped.
Once Tuberculosis treatment is completed and rifampicin is stopped, once again in ART regimen Nevirapine can be reintroduced. Rifampicin and Nevirapine both are hepatotoxic.
Similarly if patient become pregnant, then from ART regimen, Efavirenz has to be withdrawn.
Efavirenz is teratogenic drug. After delivery, Efavirenz can be reintroduced.
