Sixth International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection 17-21 November, 2002 Glasgow, UK

By the end of year 2001, it was estimated that 40 million people worldwide were infected with HIV. Over 80% reside in the resource-poor settings of which 28.5M are in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1995 morbidity and mortality related to HIV-infection has been dramatically decreased in the developed world due to the use of antiretroviral drugs. Yet in resource-poor settings such morbidity and mortality has been steadily going up to the extend that HIV/ AIDS is now one of the biggest cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, this need not be the case. ARV drugs that were initially too expensive and complicated to use are becoming readily accessible. This is due to the dramatic drop in their costs, availability of cheaper generic products and the development of more products so that simpler regimens are now possible. It is now possible to have three drug combinations that are reasonably effective but without a protease inhibitor. This allows many patients who may have tuberculosis to benefit from ARV therapy without the need to interrupt their ant-tuberculosis therapy. Careful selection of ARV combinations can minimize side effects as well as promote better compliance and adherence to the treatment. This then will also reduce the possibilities of the development of drug resistance.

Conclusions: The benefits of ARV therapy are real and need yet to be enjoyed by the majority of HIV-infected population in resource-poor settings. As their costs come down and more user-friendly products come on the market, rational selection of suitable combinations will go a long way in ensuring that many people enjoy their benefits.

Presenting author: Elly Katabira

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1 Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

2002-11-17
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