From the Guidelines
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, specifically CD4 T cells, weakening the body's ability to fight infections and diseases. If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the most advanced stage of HIV infection. According to 1, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has revolutionized the treatment of HIV, reducing mortality worldwide. HIV is primarily transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, and through contact with infected blood.
Transmission and Prevention
Key prevention methods include:
- Using condoms
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Regular testing As noted in 1, ART reduces the amount of virus in compartments relevant for transmission, such as blood, semen, and the genital tract, and can therefore reduce transmission of the virus.
Treatment
Current standard treatment involves antiretroviral therapy (ART), which typically consists of a combination of medications from different drug classes. Modern ART regimens often come as single-tablet formulations taken once daily. While HIV cannot be cured, proper adherence to ART can reduce viral load to undetectable levels, allowing people with HIV to live long, healthy lives and preventing transmission to others (Undetectable = Untransmittable). As 1 highlights, there are now 28 antiretroviral drugs on the market, classified into six primary drug classes, including nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase inhibitors (IIs), and entry inhibitors (CCR5 agents and fusion inhibitors).
Quality of Life and Mortality
Proper management of HIV with ART is crucial to improve quality of life and reduce mortality. With the advancement in ART, many people with HIV can now live long and healthy lives, as noted in 1. The documentation of survival benefits from combination triple therapy ART in 1996 led to a downturn in mortality from HIV infection worldwide.
From the FDA Drug Label
HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- HIV-1 is the specific type of HIV that is being referred to in the context of these drug labels 2 3. The exact definition or description of HIV is not explicitly provided in the drug labels, but it is mentioned as the virus that causes AIDS.
From the Research
Definition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections 4, 5, 6.
- If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a condition where the body's immune system is severely damaged, making it more susceptible to other diseases and infections.
Transmission and Prevention
- HIV is typically spread through bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, pre-seminal fluids, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk 5, 6.
- The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been shown to reduce the transmission of HIV, and early initiation of ART can help achieve viral suppression, reducing the risk of transmission 4, 5, 6.
Treatment and Management
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the primary treatment for HIV, which involves taking a combination of medications to suppress the virus 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
- The goal of ART is to achieve viral suppression, which can help prevent the progression of HIV to AIDS and reduce the risk of transmission 4, 5, 6.
- Different classes of medications are used to treat HIV, including non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) 7, 8.