A balance of risks for the treatment of the chronically HIV-infected asymptomatic individual

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has had a dramatic impact on the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV. HAART is recommended in the asymptomatic patient prior to the CD4 count falling to below 200 cells/μl. Early diagnosis of HIV is important to allow a patient to commence HAART at the optimum time. The benefit of HAART must be weighed against the risks of drug toxicity, suboptimal adherence and virological failure.