Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

Definition

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of a combination of antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV infection. It aims to reduce the viral load, improve immune function, and prevent HIV transmission.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ART typically involves a regimen of three or more antiretroviral drugs from at least two different classes.
2. The goal of ART is to achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load in the patient's blood.
3. Adherence to ART is crucial for its effectiveness; missing doses can lead to drug resistance.
4. Common classes of antiretroviral drugs include NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, and integrase inhibitors.
5. Side effects of ART can range from mild (nausea, fatigue) to severe (liver toxicity, metabolic changes).

Review Questions

• What are the primary goals of antiretroviral therapy?
• Why is adherence important in the success of ART?
• Name at least two classes of drugs used in ART.

Related terms

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs): A class of antiretroviral drugs that inhibit reverse transcriptase by incorporating into the viral DNA.

Protease Inhibitors (PIs): A class of antiretroviral drugs that inhibit the protease enzyme, preventing viral replication.

Integrase Inhibitors: A class of antiretroviral drugs that block the action of integrase, an enzyme HIV uses to integrate its genetic material into host cells.