HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an incurable infection that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, HIV progress to AIDS and become deadly.
There are many HIV treatments available today that can prevent the progression of the infection, which have lowered the mortality rate significantly since the epidemic started.
Even though there is no cure, science is constantly making strides. There are always new clinical studies that test new HIV treatments in addition to continuous research into finding a cure. They are volunteer-based, meaning everyone who participates understands the side effects and risks that are associated with the trials. There have been many successful clinical studies, including a very recent study called PRO 140 with a 98% success rate.
HIV Treatment: Overview
HIV is treated with a combination of medications called antiretroviral therapy (ART) to fight the virus. ART does not cure the infection, but it can regulate the virus so to prolong your life and lower the risk of transmission. In short, ART is an HIV regimen consisting of a cocktail of HIV-fighting medicines.
According to Aids.org, HIV medications are classified into six drug groups based on how they work:
Protease inhibitors (PIs): Prevent virus replication.
Fusion inhibitors: Prevent the virus from entering the CD4 cell.
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): Stick to and obstruct HIV reverse transcriptase — an enzyme.
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): Block the enzyme that the virus needs to replicate itself.
CCR5 antagonists (CCR5s): They neutralize the receptor that aids the virus in entering cells.
Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs): They block integrase to prevent the virus from inserting its genome into the host cell.
Although one or more may be combined to treat the virus, all of these six classes contain over 25 HIV FDA-approved medicines.
These medications stop the virus from replicating itself, hence gradually lower the amount of viral load in your system. When these HIV medications suppress the virus, your immune system gets a chance to recover and is then healthy enough to fight the virus with antibodies on its own.
When the HIV in your body is lowered, the chances of your transmitting the infection to someone else is also less likely. Antiretroviral therapy is strongly recommended for everyone who has HIV because, without proper treatment, HIV eventually leads to AIDS.
Featured Image: depositphotos/angellodeco
Posted on May 5, 2023