AIDS: Clinical Manifestations

Christoph Boesecke, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Gregory J Dore, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
David A Cooper, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Published online: September 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0002237.pub2

In the course of time human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) notably affects the host's immune system. As a result, HIV-infected people can experience a wide range of clinical manifestations, especially if the infection is not being treated duly with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). At such an advanced stage of the disease, patients eventually face severe illnesses. Of these, more than 20 conditions, including opportunistic infections and malignancies, have been classified as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)-defining illnesses to date. Recently, clinical research has also focused on serious non-AIDS-related events (SNAEs). This term refers to an increasing rate of illnesses such as cardiovascular, liver and renal diseases as well as neoplasms occurring in long-term-treated patients on the basis of longer life expectancy. However, there are still significant differences in access to and availability of antiretroviral therapy throughout the world which leads to contrasting patterns in the spectrum of AIDS-defining illnesses in resource-limited settings and developed countries.

Key concepts:

  • AIDS-defining illnesses mainly occur at a very advanced stage of the HIV infection.
  • More than 20 conditions are currently listed as AIDS-defining illnesses.
  • The spectrum of AIDS-defining illnesses varies in developed and resource-limited settings.
  • Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is the most common AIDS-related illness in industrialized countries.
  • Tuberculosis is the most common AIDS-related illness in developing countries.
  • Antiretroviral therapy has had a significant impact on the spectrum of AIDS-defining illnesses.
  • Owing to the now longer life expectancy serious non-AIDS-related illnesses have become more important in clinical management.

Keywords: HIV; AIDS; clinical spectrum; opportunistic infections

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Virus Diseases | Viruses Infecting Humans
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Article Title: AIDS: Clinical Manifestations
 
How to Cite close
Boesecke, Christoph, Dore, Gregory J, and Cooper, David A(Sep 2009) AIDS: Clinical Manifestations. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0002237.pub2]