Guidelines for antiretroviral therapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects in the Czech Republic
Abstract
HIV infection remains an incurable disease because of the impossibility to eradicate the HIV from the organism. However, the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is able to efficiently limit HIV replication and slow down progression of immunodeficiency and thus prolong and improve the quality of HIV+ patients' lives.
In HIV+ pregnant women, the antiretroviral therapy substantially reduces the risk of vertical transmission of the infection. According to present knowledge, the cART is indicated mainly in symptomatic patients with stage B or C diseases and for vertical transmission and postexposure prophylaxis; less clear is the indication of cART for treating acute HIV infection and in asymptomatic patients.
Various guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents issued worldwide, e.g. in the USA, Europe or by the WHO, are not completely identical. The authors present a draft of recommendations for the use of antiretroviral agents in the Czech Republic based on the above-mentioned guidelines as well as on their own experience with taking care of HIV/AIDS patients.