Introduction
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) made its first appearance in 1981. Two years later, in 1983, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) was found to be the cause of the syndrome and after that commenced an immense search towards finding appropriate therapy for this fatal disease. The first drug that was apporoved and licensed by FDA was the former created 3’-azido-2’,3’-dideoxythymidine (also called zidovudine, or AZT) after it demonstrated in vitro inhibitory effect on HIV. However, there was a predecessor of AZT that inhibited in vitro HIV, a substance called suramin, which was used in the treatment of african trypanosomiasis and oncochersiasis, although it was abonded due to its severe toxicity. As said above, zidovudine was on older drug, developed in 1964 as a potential anticancer agent, however it was of low interest as it showed only modest effects. AZT falls into the category of NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors). After it enters into the cell, this nucleoside analogue is phosphorylated into nucleotide which interferes with the viral reverse transcriptase, thus leading to early termination of the viral DNA chain so that enzymes from the cell can eliminate this compounds.
After AZT several other NRTIs were produced and approved for use. In spite of the enthusiasm from the results of AZT, it was soon made clear that monotherapy does not supresses effectively HIV, leading to the emerge of mutation that were resistant to the drug. Later, in 1995-1997, the approval of the sanquinavir, the first protease inhibitor(PI) and nevirapine, the first non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) opened the path towards what would be called later highly active antiretroviral therapy (or...
... middle of paper ...
...s the Atripla described above and it is predicted that FDCs will play a constantly increasing role in the HIV therapy. The use of FDCs also provides the ability to incorporate new classes of antiretroviral agents, thus enhancing the therapeutic results.
Several issues that have emerged lately regarding anti-HIV therapy are the selection of first line regimen in treatment-naïve patients consisting of two NRTIs, while the third agent could be a NNRTI or a ritonavir-boosted PI, even the lately approved integrase inhibitor raltegavir. Also, severe toxicity remains an important problem, as it can interfere with the well being of patients. Moreover, the use of monotherapy as maintance agents using boosted protease inhibitors has been under research, however their ability to supress the HIV load for a long time is limited. Another major issue is the dissemination of
By searching for the causative agent of infectious disease the focus can then be shifted into discovering preventative and treatment of the disease. Examples of this process are the outbreak of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). As published by McEwen & Wills (2011), BSE was identified as a protein transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated meat. Prevention and interventions were created as a result of the discovery of the protein. Comparably, AIDS, was first identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September of 1982, however, months passed before the causative agent was deemed a retrovirus later to be determined the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Even before the virus was isolated methods of transmission was recognized and interventions were acknowledged (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
Introduction of HAART has led to significant reductions in mortality and morbidity associated with HIV infection. However, even with the reduction in mortality and morbidity, there are still some adverse effects caused by these drugs. Hepatotoxicity is commonly seen in patients taking Non- Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI), a drug used in HAART. Drug-induced liver injury is responsible for more than 50% of cases of acute liver injury in the United States. Furthermore, patients with concurrent Hepatit...
Everyday researchers have proposed new methods of how to control the HIV virus from turning into AIDS. A combination of effective HIV medicines help stop the formation of new copies of HIV as it reproduces in your body. This technique helps to keep your CD-4 cell count up and your viral load down. CD-4 cells are one type of immune cells that assist to fight off the virus, the higher your count the stronger your immune system (Nakashima 77). Whereas, your viral load is a measure of HIV in your blood and your treatment goal is to have the lowest viral load possible. People with higher viral loads tend to progress to AIDS and become sick sooner than those with lower viral loads (Nakashima 80). Successful HIV medications can prevent other infections common with AIDS and can help you live longer.
Since the development of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the 1990s, HIV/AIDs has evolved from a death sentence into a treatable disease. It has presented a unique global health problem because while the treatments were very effective, they were extremely expensive, required advanced laboratory monitoring, were prescribed indefinitely, and required excellent patient compliance. In many of the developing countries devastated by AIDs/HIV, the health and societal infrastructures often had difficult supporting an effective treatment program. For that reason, it is estimated that 71% of HIV/AID cases are in sub-Saharan Africa and only 39% of of them are on ART (AVERT, 2015). Southern Africa is often considered the “epicenter” of the
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represents a major public health concern in developing and developed nations alike, with an estimated 35.3 million people worldwide living with HIV1.One-third of a century’s worth of research has helped change HIV from a steady and certain killer into a relatively manageable infection when treated with appropriate care. However, the HIV puzzle is far from solved. 2012 estimates suggest acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, caused by HIV) kills 1.6 million each year1. Reflecting the seriousness of the pandemic, the United States National Institutes of Health has made it a research priority, investing nearly three billion US dollars in HIV/AIDS research in 2013 alone—with similar amounts budgeted for future years2.
Masur H, H. L. (2007). Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In A. D. Goldman L, Cecil Medicine (p. Chap 412). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier.
...al tools to prevent HIV infection, as well as safe, affordable, and nontoxic therapies for initial control of infection.
“In 1980, a life-threatening human immune dysfunction of unknown origins was noticed in Central Africa, Europe, and the United States” (Poindexter, 2007, p. 6). In 1981, in the United States, the disease was first reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike numerous other viruses, the human body cannot rid itself of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Currently, no cure exists for HIV. Thankfully, with giant leaps in today’s medical and technological advancements in pharmaceutical research this disease is now considered to be a chronic condition. Today, with proper medical management and compliance the infected p...
Before Truvada became FDA approved, the only other HIV preventative was Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which was a mixture of drugs i.e. drug cocktail, to help treat possible HIV infection. Although it was not in a high percentage of being effective, the drugs were shown to work in some cases. A.R. Markos writes in his book Sexually Transmitted Diseases, that PEP is generally taken with people who have been sexually assaulted, drugs, expo...
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people 's defense systems against infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count. Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections and diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can take from 2 to 15 years to develop depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections, or other severe clinical manifestations.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leads to the life threatening Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV only lives in the blood and other bodily fluids. Concentrations of HIV are small in vomit, sweat, tears, and saliva and cannot be transmitted by those fluids. The main transmission is through fluids like semen, vaginal fluids, and rectal mucous during sexual contact, breast milk and amniotic fluid passing to children, and blood during transfusions and exposure. Beginning stages of HIV start with the acute infection. During the first 2 weeks to a month after exposure to the HIV infection, most infected individuals with display symptoms of a severe flu. The symptoms include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, muscle and joint aches and pains, fatigue, and headache. The early period of infection is known as the “acute retroviral syndrome” (Stages, 2013). Once the virus is out of the acute stage it enters into the latency stage where it continues to replicate but no symptoms are shown. As the infection progresses and the immune system beco...
In 1981, was the beginning of what is commonly known now today as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is one of the biggest epidemics of history (1). As of today, there is over 1.1 million people in the United States living with HIV/AIDS (1). Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a complex immune virus that is capable of destroying ones immune system, leaving there body defenseless. As a result of a deficient immune system there is a whole plethora of comorbidities that accompany the HIV virus. It has been reported the HIV-1 and HIV-2 are the more virulent. With no cure, there are only current medications that help depresses the progression of the virus, and with very little signs and symptoms it is easily transmitted. Even though there are no direct physical therapy interventions for people with HIV, certain physical therapy protocols can help depress the progressive destruction of the virus along with keeping the comorbidities at bay.
Furthermore, HIV research has led to the acquisition of a wealth of knowledge in regards to treatment of the disease. In the mid-1980s, there was no known treatment whereas today there are over 30 agents. The most effective of them is combination therapy, which is far superior to individual therapy in “achieving complete suppression of HIV replication, durability of treatment response, prevention of development of HIV drug resistance, and reduced HIV and non-HIV-associated morbidity and mortality” (Abel et al, 2013). The therapy has had such positive results that recent data has shown that people with an HIV infection who have an undetectable viral load on therapy and achieve and...
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) first came to light in 1981. There has been a long and arduous global effort on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. HIV is a virus that is spread through body fluids that affect the specific T-cells of the immune system. Without treatment HIV infection leads to AIDS and there is no cure for AIDS. HIV infection can be controlled and the importance of primary pre...
Laurent Mandelbrot et al., Lamivudine-Zidovudine Combination for Prevention of Maternal-Infant Transmission of HIV-1, 285 JAMA, 2083, 2083-2093 (2001).