Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What are the complications of HIV? on MedicineNet

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (cont.)

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Medical Author:

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

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Medical Author:

Rowena A. Medina, MD

Medical Editor:

Eric S. Daar, MD

Dr. Daar received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and his clinical and research fellowship in infectious diseases at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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What are the complications of HIV?

The complications of HIV infection result mainly from a weakened immune system. The virus also infects the brain, causing degeneration, problems with thinking, or even dementia. This makes the person more vulnerable to certain types of conditions and infections (see Table 1). Treatment with HAART can reverse or mitigate the effects of HIV infection. Some patients on HAART may be at risk for developing cholesterol or blood-sugar problems.

Although many effective medications are on the market, the virus can become resistant to any drug. This can be a serious complication if it means that a less effective medicine must be used. To reduce the risk of resistance, patients should take their medications as prescribed and call their physician immediately if they feel they need to stop one or more drugs.

What is the prognosis for HIV infection?

Left untreated, HIV is almost always a fatal illness with half of people dying within nine months of diagnosis of an AIDS-defining condition. The use of HAART has dramatically changed this grim picture. People who are on an effective HAART regimen have life expectancies that are similar to or only moderately less than the uninfected population. Unfortunately, many people with AIDS deal with socioeconomic issues, substance-abuse issues, or other problems that interfere with their ability or desire to take medications.

Can AIDS be prevented?

AIDS can be prevented. The best means of prevention is not to get HIV in the first place. Sexual abstinence is completely effective in eliminating sexual transmission, but educational campaigns have not been successful in promoting abstinence in at-risk populations. Monogamous sexual intercourse between two uninfected partners also eliminates sexual transmission of the virus. Using barrier methods, such as condoms, during sexual intercourse reduces but does not eliminate the risk of viral transmission. These measures have had some success in blunting the rate of new cases, especially in high-risk areas such as sub-Saharan Africa or Haiti. As discussed above, medications may be used to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who have been exposed.

Needle-stick injuries can be prevented by touching syringes with only one hand and by using more modern needles that have retractable sleeves. Use of gowns, gloves, masks, and eye protection can reduce the risk of exposure to infected secretions in high-risk settings. For intravenous-drug abusers, use of clean needles and elimination of needle sharing reduces the risk of transmission.

If a person already has HIV, he or she can reduce the risk of progressing to AIDS by taking an effective HAART regimen. A pregnant woman with HIV can reduce the risk of passing the infection to her baby by taking medications during pregnancy and labor and avoiding breastfeeding.

Reviewed by Eric S. Daar, MD on 3/9/2012

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