HIV Flashcards
How is HIV spread?
Sexual transmission
Injection drug misuse
What is the pathophysiology of HIV infection?
HIV destroys T-helper cells that have a CD4+ receptor on their surface
Cells with CD4+ receptors can also be found in the brain and skin
What happens to the CD4+ count over time with HIV infection?
Decreases
What are patients at greater risk of as their CD4+ count decreases?
Infections
Tumours
How is the CD4+ count related to HIV disease severity?
Lower the CD4+ count the more severe the disease
What is the CD4+ count in most AIDS diagnosis and severe HIV infections?
< 200
What happens to concentration of HIV RNA as the disease progresses?
Increases
What are some of the commonly seen infections occuring in those with HIV?
Toxoplasmosis
CMV
Pneumonia
Meningitis
Candida
Aspergillosis
What are some of the commonly seen cancers occuring in those with HIV?
NHL
Cervical
Anal
Kaposi’s sarcoma
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV infection - no symptoms
AIDS - Infections and tumours
What the classes of HIV treatments?
1 - Nuceloside reverse transciptase inhibitors
2 - Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
3 - Protease inhibitors
4 - Integrase inhibitors
Where in the viral replication process do antiviral HIV treatments work?
Reverse transciptase inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors
Protease inhibitors
If a pregnant woman is found to be HIV positive, when should she be started on treatment?
Before 3rd trimester
What is the main reason HIV treatments fail?
Poor patient adherence
Which classes of HIV drugs cause lipodystrophy?
NRTI’s
Protease inhibitors
